A SCHOOL in Bamber Bridge has raised almost £1,000 for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and is hoping to set up a reconstruction project with the money.

Nilmini Ellery, a teaching assistant at Walton-le-Dale High, Brindle Road, was born in the country, and is hoping the school can help re-build Galle, a coastal city in southern tea-growing region of the country.

Her aunt, Sister Marie de Lorette, a member of the Sisters of Charity, still lives in the city and witnessed the devastation first hand.

Children at the school held a non-uniform day and a table top sale on Tuesday that raised £850.

In Galle more than 4,000 people were killed by the giant waves on Boxing Day and more than 25,000 people are homeless, and in the country close to 31,000 people have died and more than one million have lost their homes.

The teaching assistant, who moved to Britain when she was four years old, said: "Because of my personal connection with Galle and my aunt we are hoping to set up a reconstruction project that we can get feedback from.

"We don't know what the money will be spent on. My aunt will liaise closely with the Sri Lankan government to see it goes to a project that has government backing."

She said projects being considered were refurbishing a school; providing care for orphans; buying land for homes; or rebuilding homes. And the money raised will go a long way as it costs less than £600 to build a small brick house there.

Joy Elliott, an English teacher at the school, said: "Some of nearby primary schools are also going to raise money, so we should get some more funds, we are hoping to support a project in the long term."s