St Peter's Episcopal Church, which has strong links with the country, this week asked local people to donate generously now that aid is finally reaching the stricken region.

The church has already pledged the proceeds from its Christian Aid week fundraising activities to those affected by the cyclone and subsequent flooding.

Since the cyclone hit on May 3, aid agencies have estimated that around 100,000 people have died, while millions more are now hungry and homeless.

The first aid plane landed in Burma this week, following the military government's initial refusal to allow aid agencies across its borders.

Carol Latimer, lay worship leader at St Peter's Church, said: "The church has been watching developments with particular concern.

"The need for help is urgent, and now that the aid organisations have been granted permission to get into this closed country we can give that help in the confidence that it will reach the areas of greatest need.

"These people have suffered enough. This is our chance to help them. Please give generously to one of the many emergency relief funds which have been set up."

Carol previously spent time teaching English at one of the many refugee camps on the Burma and Thailand border, and from this, St Peter's Church formed a link with churches in the region.

Since then, the Townsend Place church has raised funds to help young refugees, and has hosted a visit from one of the Anglican bishops in Burma, the Rt Rev. Stephen Than Myint Oo, now Archbishop of Myanmar.

Read the full story in this week's Fife Free Press.