FIVE different church congregations from the Helensburgh area joined forces to raise more than £1,200 for Christian Aid on Saturday.

Rhu Church on bric a brac, St Michael’s on plants, URC on crafts, Helensburgh Parish on jewellery and St Joseph’s on toys and books all contributed towards the sum of £1,240.28 raised at the annual grand fair in aid of the charity, held in the main hall at Helensburgh Parish Church.

All the congregations donated goods and homebaking and supported the event.

This year Christian Aid is focusing on Sierra Leone particularly rebuilding the health services and maternal health programmes in the country.

Sierra Leone is currently one of the most dangerous countries in the world to have a baby - one mother in every 10 dies in childbirth, and one child in 10 doesn’t live long enough to see their fifth birthday.

These figures, however, can be improved with access to handwashing and sanitation facilities. Christian Aid is working with partner organisations in the country to improve basic services.

Paul Jupp, chair of the Helensburgh Christian Aid fund-raising committee, said: “In Helensburgh we organise a series of fund-raising events including the sponsored swim, house to house collections and the street collection and we would like to thank the people of Helensburgh for the tremendous support they give us during Christian Aid Week.”

Helensburgh’s Christian Aid Week events continued on Monday with the annual primary school football tournament in aid of the charity, while the town’s Christian Aid sponsored swim takes place at Helensburgh Swimming Pool.