ALMOST £35,000 has been raised to support the surviving children affected by the tragic Llangammarch Wells farmhouse fire.

David Cuthbertson, 68, died in a fire at Poityn farm, near Llangammarch Wells, in October 2017, along with five of his children: Just Raine, 11; Reef Raine, 10; Misty Raine, nine; Patch Raine, six, and Gypsy Grey Raine, four.

The Llangammarch & District Relief Fund was launched by the tight-knit communities of Llangammarch, Cefn Gorwydd, Tirabad and Llanwrtyd to support the family.

The charitable trust has announced “with grateful thanks to everyone who has contributed” that the total raised so far is £34,848.74.

Trustees, comprising of family members and Llangammarch Community Council and Llanwrtyd Town Council members, have agreed to leave a sum in the bank and invest the rest to get some interest. The sum to be left in the bank was agreed to be £2,000 for each child at a meeting on October 16.

Trustees also decided that there would be no more fundraising by the Trust itself, but that donations and money raised by the public would still be welcome.

Following advice, the fund will remain as a Charitable Trust Fund, which has been accepted by the Community Foundation in Wales as a charity.

The trustees of the Llangammarch & District Disaster Relief Fund said in a statement: “With grateful thanks to everyone who has contributed to the fund, the sum now stands at £34,848.74.

“Following advice, the fund with remain as a Charitable Trust Fund, which has been accepted by the Community Foundation in Wales as a charity.

“The family and other trustees agreed that there would be no more fund raising by the Trust itself, but that donations and monies raised by the public would still be most welcome.

“It was agreed to leave a sum in the bank and invest the rest to get some interest. The sum to be left in the bank was agreed at £2,000 for each child. The Community Foundation in Wales will be approached for investment advice for the balance.

“Any request for funds would need to come before, and agreed by, the trustees.”