A Heswall woman is raising money to help pay for the evacuation and resettlement of a family in Afghanistan.

Rebecca Mortby met a relative of the family at university 12 years ago, and they have been friends ever since.

She says the return of the Taliban has placed them in peril, and that they have been on the receiving end of death threats.

"The father is a former judge who imprisoned Taliban fighters, and another relative, also a judge, has already been killed."

The family lives in Kabul, and one young member is an eleven year old girl called Mursal. She wrote a heartfelt letter describing her plight to Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Says Rebecca: "The family applied on August the 13th for resettlement in the UK, as part of the British ARAP Scheme. This scheme was set up to provide safety to those who had 'supported British efforts in Afghanistan'. They then experienced a long and worrying wait.

"In desperation and with no news of their application they went to the airport on Tuesday the 24th, hoping to be allowed on an evacuation flight, when US troops opened fire into the air in an attempt to disperse the desperate crowds that had gathered there.

"Finally on Thursday the 26th they received the positive response they were waiting for - permission to travel to the UK for safety.

"The family wasted no time in heading straight to the airport. However while they waited outside a bomb struck only 200 metres away, killing 175 and injuring many more.

"Following the terror attack, evacuation flights stopped for security reasons and two days later on the 28th, the last British troops left Afghanistan for the first time in twenty years, leaving behind Mursal's family and many more.

Rebecca set up a Just Giving page with a target of £7000. At time of writing she is just over half way there.

"I will be using the money to pay the travel agent who is able to organise their journey to a neighbouring country and attend one of the British processing centres where they will be able to organise their onward journey to the UK.

"Any funds above this will be used to assist them in replacing belongings left behind and help them to settle into their new home, such as warm clothes, shoes, school items, toiletries and bedding. I am hosting the campaign so as to keep their identities hidden for their own safety.

"Mursal and her family need our help," adds Rebecca. If you are able to, please give what you can."

If you would like to donate, you can reach Rebecca's Just Giving page by clicking or tapping here.