More than 30 churches in Carlisle have collectively gathered nearly a quarter of a tonne of candles for Ukraine.

The congregations, including those in rural parishes within the Carlisle Deanery, accumulated the candles over two months.

The candles have now been sent to a special project in Wiltshire.

The Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (SHAP) coordinates shipments to Ukraine to assist people who are struggling without power and heat.

Carolyne Baines, churchwarden at St Michael’s Burgh by Sands, initially learned about the SHAP project through the Church Times.

She said: "This was something that I thought was very worthwhile and which churches could easily get involved with.

"The response to the appeal has been beyond everyone’s expectations and an amazing 230 kilograms of candles have been collected.

"We are also very grateful for the help and support of the Rotary Club of Carlisle who arranged for the collection of candles to be taken down to Swindon."

Churches in the Carlisle Rural Mission Community, located west and south of the city, as well as St George’s United Reformed Church in the city, have also participated.

Cardboard boxes filled with new and partially used candles donated by congregations were delivered to SHAP’s warehouse unit.

There, trench candles are produced to provide a heat source for Ukrainians enduring winter temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius.

The Rev Simon Bickersteth, vicar of St James Carlisle and rural dean for Carlisle Deanery, said: "It’s been wonderful to again see how churches and congregations can come together in such a practical way to support those who are facing terrible hardship.

"As Christians, we are committed to doing all we can to help those who are struggling and need support."

To learn more about the project, you can visit www.shapuk.org/candles-for-ukraine.