CHURCHGOERS from Nailsea and Backwell will be tidying up gardens, picking up prescriptions for the elderly, and helping people in their communities this year.

CHURCHGOERS from Nailsea and Backwell will be tidying up gardens, picking up prescriptions for the elderly, and helping people in their communities this year.

Members of Nailsea Churches Together, which also includes St Andrew's Church in Backwell and Backwell Baptist and Methodist Churches, are asking members of the public what they need assistance with so worshippers can go out and help people in their own homes.

The churches have decided to carry out the projects as part of the national Hope08 initiative, which has been set up by Christian leaders to encourage churchgoers to help people and improve the communities they live in.

Gary Woodall, pastor of Nailsea Baptist Church, said: "We are taking part in it so we can ask people what they need assistance with and try to help.

"We're not organising events and inviting people, we're helping people where they need it."

Churchgoers have been talking to doctors in Nailsea and Backwell as well as local councillors and schools to find out what the needs are in their communities and a number of projects are already being planned.

In February volunteers from the churches will be running two weeks of community work when churchgoers will be tidying up gardens and parks, walking pets for people who are ill and helping out with general chores.

At Easter, the dedicated volunteers will be going to supermarkets to pack bags for customers and assist them with their shopping.

Members are also thinking of organising a community festival in Nailsea in July and putting on entertainment.

Mr Woodall, from the church in The Courtyard, said: "We are looking forward to the whole year, it should be great.

"We are called to the community to serve and it's important that we take the opportunity to do it when we can."

Anyone needing some help in Nailsea or Backwell can contact Gary Woodall at gary@nailseabaptist.com