Berkshire Community Foundation’s Flood Recovery Fund – which was launched in February after storms battered the county – received the substantial sum from kind-hearted donors and is now ready to dish out much-needed financial support to those struck by the downpours.

The Foundation is urging people to apply for grants of up to £1,000 for residents, between £1,000-£10,000 for community groups and between £500-£3,000 for small businesses.

Berkshire Community Foundation chief executive officer Andrew Middleton said: “We were absolutely delighted by the generosity of the individual, community and corporate donations to the fund and we are now in the happy position of being able to make sure this money goes directly to those who were so disrupted.

“We have all heard of the plight of people who are still out of their own homes, of those who lost irreplaceable family treasures and those who, for whatever reasons, just simply don’t have insurance cover.

These are the people we want to help and are inviting their applications. “Similarly we want to hear from community groups whose activities or property have been affected. We have money available and may well be able to help.”

Mr Middleton said the Foundation is particularly interested in supporting flood-affected businesses and added: “We have received strong support from the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and recognise that we must do everything we can to help the local economy.

“We know there are businesses which were affected by flooding at the time and may still be struggling to get back on their feet. We want to hear from them.”

Andrew Phillips, landlord of The Cunning Man pub in Burghfield which was hit by the floods, said: “The fund is a great idea and it should be good for the area. The external area of our pub and the car park was heavily flooded and our turnover took a hit for four to five weeks.”

To apply for funding visit www.berkshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk/flood-fund/ and to donate to the fund visit https://localgiving.com/charity/berkshirefloodfund