A WORCESTER singer/songwriter who is travelling in Australia is set to perform a fundraising gig to support victims of the bush fires.

Poppy Waterman-Smith, better known as Poppy WS, has spent three months in Melbourne performing gigs and busking in the city.

Poppy, aged 26, of Sidbury, said: “This week I'm recording a rough live album to make up some last-minute CD's to sell with a percentage of the proceedings going to charities for people affected by the bush fires out here.

"I'll be making up 100 signed copies which hopefully I'll sell at the fundraiser and busking over the next couple of weeks.

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“Even here in Melbourne, one of the safest places to be right now, we have had days where the smoke is so overwhelming you cannot leave the house. If you do, it is like being in a permanent bonfire, you wake up to the smell of smoke, everywhere you go is haze. It's scary, even for being here.”

Poppy says that every Australian person she's met has been affected by the fires, whether it's family, friends or work.

She added: “There is also a lot of anger too, anger from the government cutting funds for bush fire prevention."

The fundraising event is being held at Barton Fink in Thornbury, Melbourne on January 18, starting from 2pm and going on until 1am.

The charity the money will go to is The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.

Poppy said: “We have chosen them due to the tragic circumstances that the local community has and will have to endure in the coming months/years.

"They are a grassroots organisation that have been providing emergency relief since 1978.”

If people overseas would like to donate, Poppy will be live streaming parts of the evening on her music Facebook page - Poppy WS - where there will be a button to donate to the cause.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service could possibly be asked to go to Australia to help tackle the wildfires raging across the country.