WITHIN days of the devastating earthquake that rocked Nepal in April 2015, a Bishop Auckland school leapt into action to help some of those affected.

An initiative by The British Council had already seen Bishop Barrington School partnered Mount Hermoun Secondary School, in Kathmandu, and form close links in the four years before the earthquake.

So when news of their Himalayan friends’ plight reached Bishop Barrington, pupils and staff launched a fundraising campaign which made more than £2,000.

Anne Henderson, head of geography, said: “The school building itself is an old apartment block and the earthquake damaged its foundations, it needed structural repairs before anyone could go back in and a lot of pupils and families left the city to seek safety.

“As a result, the school has struggled to get back on its feet and recover from the terrible event of April 2015. Our pupils are amazed when they realise how different it is to here.”

Over the last few months the school’s donation has been put to good use as repairs and improvements to the building take shape.

The main alternation at Mount Hermoun has been the addition of a new hall which can hold speech and reading practise and presentations as the classrooms as too small.

A new toilet block has been built with a better roof, walls have been put up around the yard to screen the school from residential buildings and four new computers were bought to support children’s learning, though internet access is not yet available.

Tools have been bought to help with ongoing maintenance and work on the yard so children can play outside should soon get underway.

Miss Henderson said: “The money we have fundraised has gone a long way.

“I’m keen for the fundraising to continue and regularly keep in touch with the staff in the school in Kathmandu and I’m keen to see the improvements for myself.

“The principal of Mount Hermoun, Sharad Shrestha, would like to say a massive thank you to all staff and pupils at Bishop Barrington for all their support and kindness over the last two years. It seems like we really have made a difference.”