VILLAGERS in a deprived African village are getting a new fishing boat to help feed their families after their plight touched East Lancashire youngsters.

Year 10 students from Westholme School decided to raise money for the people of Turkana, a community in the Rift Province of Kenya, after an RE lesson with priest Father Steven Ochieng.

Fr Ochieng had been invited to the school, in Meins Road, Blackburn, to talk about his home village by head of ethics, philosophy and religion Donna Worthington.

She had previously heard him speak at a service at St Peter and St Paul's RC Church, Ribchester.

Turkana is severely deprived, largely due to harsh climate conditions which badly damage crops and cattle, and make it a difficult place to survive.

The pupils, who come from all over East Lancashire, were so moved by the plight that they decided to arrange an event to raise £700 for a fishing boat.

Ms Worthington said: "Fr Ochieng was visiting Catholic churches in the area to talk about the work he is doing to try to help his home community.

"I spoke to him afterwards and he agreed to speak to my GCSE students.

"We had a wonderful discussion in the lesson, and he mentioned he was working to buy fishing boats for people to be able to get food for their families, and maybe make a living."

The pupils organised a movie night for Year 7 pupils and in January they transformed Westholme's theatre into a glamorous cinema, rolling out the red carpet and bedecking its foyer walls with film posters and fairy lights.

The Year 7 moviegoers got into the Hollywood spirit by dressing up as their favourite film star, and in the interval the older students set up stalls selling ice creams, popcorn and a chocolate fountain.

The event raised £950, and the surplus £250 was given to Year 7 pupils to donate to their chosen charity, MIND.

The Year 10 pupils presented a cheque for £700 to John Kennedy of the Jubilee Trust on behalf of the Kenyan priests, at the school's Easter assembly - the assembly's theme was the boat serving as a symbol of faith and of journey.

Last week the students received a photograph from grateful villagers of the boat being built.

The boat should be completed soon and will be named Westholme in honour of the school's donation.

Ms Worthington said: "I'm really pleased with what the pupils achieved, they worked for a whole term to arrange the movie night, and raised a lot of money, and have made a difference."