Responding to a plea from Sderot for funding for a secure park for children, JNF Manchester raised over £50,000 at the weekend.

Almost £5,000 was brought in from a party at the Bijou bar in the city centre on Saturday evening. Close on 400 people attended the event, staged by JNF’s new Unite group, catering for 21-to-40-year-olds.

The bulk of the money was brought in from JNF’s annual Green Sunday telephone appeal. Thirty volunteers manned phones at the charity’s Manchester offices in Mamlock House.

Local senior JNF campaign executive Lorraine Palastrand said the group had responded to a direct appeal from Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal for a purpose-built secure park to provide the town’s children with a missile-proof play environment.

“He asked JNF UK during our emergency mission to Israel a couple of weeks ago.

“We are pleased with the response to the appeal and are so grateful to our supporters for their generosity in these difficult times.”