A raffle organised by Maldon salon owners to support the humanitarian response in Ukraine has raised more than £1,000 in just 24 hours, and remains open for donations until the end of the month.

Vicki Meredith, who opened Reed Hair on Maldon High Street with sister Jane Williams in 2007, decided to set up the raffle to raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Appeal on Sunday (6 March).

Every £5 donation to Vicki's JustGiving page, which went live yesterday (Monday, 7 March), buys a virtual ticket for the raffle - with 30 prizes donated by local independent businesses up for grabs.

"Me and my sister have got a lot of clients coming in and out of the salon and we're also part of a community of businesses in Maldon," Vicki said.

"I thought that we needed to help the people of Ukraine, so we reached out to businesses and set up a JustGiving page.

"We've got 30 businesses involved - they've all offered very generous donations."

Vicki contacted the businesses via the Maldon High Street Together network - a group of more than 100 independents across the town set up in 2019 by Allison Gray, owner of Willow & Fox, to allow members to connect and coordinate with each other.

Vicki, who grew up in Maldon and now lives in Great Dunmow, praised the "brilliant" response from residents and businesses so far, who have already raised £1,140, saying: "Everyone's been really, really generous."

She said: "It's made me feel better for doing it and everyone seems to feel the same.

"They've got on board with it - we just need it to reach more people now and to keep it going."

The sisters have put together a hamper worth £180 for the raffle which is sitting at the front of their salon, at 24A High Street, encouraging residents to come in and buy a ticket at the reception desk.

100 per cent of the money raised will go to the DEC Ukraine Appeal, via the British Red Cross, for families and communities in Ukraine and its bordering countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) today warned that attacks on Ukrainian hospitals, ambulances and other healthcare facilities have increased "rapidly" in recent days and medical supplies are running low, less than two weeks after Russia's invasion began.

Two million people have now fled the war in Ukraine, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said.

Donations to the DEC Ukraine Appeal are being used to provide food, first aid, clean water, shelter support, warm clothing, hygiene parcels and medicine to people in need.

The appeal is also supporting hospitals, local firefighters and civil protection units alongside training people to administer first aid, helping families stay in contact with each other and repairing vital infrastructure.

Donations to Reed Hair's fundraiser will remain open until 31 March, when the draw will take place.

You must include your name and email or Instagram handle when making your donation to be included in the draw, so that you can be contacted.

The businesses who have donated are Rachel At Reed, Willow & Fox, Read & Simpson, Phoenix, Dawn Interiors, Verdeli, Maldon Books, Silo Refillery, Heart of Craft, Serendipity Gift and Tea Shop, The Courtyard Clinic, Finale Accessories, Mrs Salisbury's Tea Rooms, Chic Petit, Bridal Reloved, Bobby's Girl, Sophie's Kitchen, The Bra Consultancy, Yours in Sport, L.A Nails, Queen Victoria, Vintage Rose Tea Room, Project Plan, Wenlock's Furnishings, Sew Starling, Studio Maisie Jo, The Swan Hotel, Beehive Hair Salon, Iggi Inks Tattoos, Bluebell Boutique and Maldon Foot Clinic.

The businesses so far confirmed to be selling raffle tickets instore are Reed Hair, Willow & Fox, Serendipity Gift and Tea Shop, Silo and Maldon Books - with more to come.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.