A WOMAN who lived through a terrifying hurricane in a small Caribbean island is today appealing for help for those coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.

A WOMAN who lived through a terrifying hurricane in a small Caribbean island is today appealing for help for those coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.

Diana Wright, 59, lived in Grenada until she was 18 before moving to Capel St Mary.

Her father still lives in the region and while his house only received a bit of damage he knows of other people who are suffering more.

Mrs Wright lived through a similar ordeal inn September 1955 when her and a friend visited the island of Green Island and Hurricane Janet hit.

She said: "It was the most scariest moment of my life. We went to bed as normal at 8pm and by 9pm the roof was shaking. By 10pm the roof had blown away and a coconut tree fell on top of the house.

"We held onto the tree for our dear lives for an hour until we managed to escape and get under the house. There we spent the night with the hens."

Mrs Wright, of The Street, Capel St Mary, is now trying to gather goods together to send over to those who have been affected in the recent Hurricane Ivan.

She said: "My father still lives in the nearby village of Carriacou and although his house only received little damage, he knows of many people who need a lot of help.

"I still keep in contact with many of my friends from out there and would love to be able to do something to help – especially because I know how bad hurricanes can be."

Geests Shipping has offered to take out aid to Grenada free of cost but money is needed to get the delivery of the 20ft container to and from Southampton. Mrs Wright is appealing for a transport company to help with the delivery or for people to raise £350 to pay for it.

She is also appealing for items to fill the container.

The urgent items requested are tinned food, tin openers, tents, blankets, tarpaulins, roof material, all sizes of batteries, radios, building supplies, all types of building supplies, construction tools, walky-talkies for communication between emergency workers and school supplies.

Mrs Wright is happy for the goods to be delivered to 30 The Street, Capel St Mary, or 1 Stockmers End, Capel St.Mary, or to Vauxhall Farm, Woodlands Road, Raydon.

Goods can also be dropped off via the Ipswich Lions by contacting Laddie Doggett on 01473 310684.

If you wish to contact Diana Wright you can contact 01473 311008.

Do you know people affected by Hurricane Ivan? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk