A Cockermouth family are crowdfunding to try and raise £50,000 to help the people of Indonesia recover from recent earthquakes, which have devastated the area.

Michelle Lockett says that living through the floods in Cockermouth has helped her to identify with the loss of the Indonesian people and she knows how much it will mean to them to know others are trying to help.

She said: "After the floods of Cockermouth we really understand what it feels like to lose everything. Theirs is an even worse loss as they have lost their homes, their family members and their income.

"When you have lived through your own disaster such as the floods you have a greater empathy for those involved because you remember how your spirit was lifted when strangers helped you and gave you hope."

Michelle, along with her two sons and daughter, rents out an eco hostel in Lombok to a local Indonesian boy, Syam, who supports his whole extended family from the income that was made from the hostel.

Earthquakes have demolished much of Lombok and the Gili Islands.

Fortunately the family were out of the country when the earthquakes struck, but are in constant contact with Syam, who is relaying news of the funds raised to the families that have been left sitting in the rubble: "It's the only thing giving them a reason to live", added Michelle.

Michelle will begin by organising trucks to get supplies to the villages in the remote mountain area of Sambik Elen, but there is still a long way to go to help the area recover. Michelle said: "As we know from Cockermouth floods it takes years to recover. Let's help them from our western world of luxury."

The crowdfunding page was set up on August 1 and so far they have raised £8,084. To donate, go to the crowdfunding page at: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lombokearthquakefund