FOLLOWING the tragic death in a car crash of Ukrainian Andriy Kiyiv at Ivington on July 3, (his birthday), may we use your letters page to thank everyone who supported the appeal to raise cash to send him home for burial.

He arrived home and was buried in his local cemetery on Tuesday, July 19. More than 200 family and friends attended his funeral and we have received news that his parents have been greatly comforted by the generosity of the many Herefordians who dipped into their purses and sent donations.

On Monday, July 25, we took nearly £1,000 to Stephen Peregrine at Ludlow funeral directors A Hoskins and Son. (This included £185 dropped into a bucket as people left the Ivington church fete on July 9, which itself raised nearly £2,000.)

Mr Peregrine has kindly agreed to underwrite the £3,000 plus costs incurred by an international firm of undertakers to repatriate Andriy. Hoskins' own charity account received more than £1,000 so we are two thirds of the way there.

As police are continuing their investigations, we do not see an early end to the fall out caused by the accident and if anyone else wishes to send a donation to help make up the shortfall, they may do so c/o Hoskins (Charity a/c) at Bromfield Road, Ludlow.

SALLY WHITTAL and SERGEY YALSYSNA, Ivington, Leominster.