HEREFORD'S Left Bank hit the high seas recently with a special visit from the Hope Canoe.

The boat will be making appearances throughout Herefordshire and Gloucestershire over the coming weeks, with spectators able to sit in or have their photos taken to share online.

Staff and volunteers from local charity Hope Support Services hope that their latest venture will make a splash on social media, by using the donated canoe to raise awareness of their new crowdfunding campaign.

The charity has just 30 days to raise £3000 in order to send 40 young people on a respite weekend, providing a much-needed break from a traumatic situation at home.

The young people, all of whom have a family member with a life threatening illness, will learn new skills and support each other with outdoor activities such as bushcraft, canoeing and camping.

The first canoe appearance in Hereford linked in with the debut of the Sweet Charity show performed by Herefordshire College of Arts students at Left Bank, where Hope was one of the charities chosen to benefit from money raised.

"We're very excited to launch our first ever crowdfunding campaign – we need 50 donors to pledge their support," said fundraising and marketing officer April Shipton.

"We hope this somewhat silly and fun idea will catch on and encourage people to really get behind us."

To find out more about the project or to donate, visit tiny.cc/Give4Hope