A VILLAGE of Burmese lepers has pumped water and electric lighting, thanks to the efforts of a former Durham police inspector.

Fred Farley, 67, of Coxhoe, who became an aid volunteer after retiring from the county's force, spent ten days in Burma, now called the Myanmar Republic, where he bought a diesel generator and lighting for the community of Mawlamyine.

Mr Farley, who had visited twice before, was funded by a donor who wants to stay anonymous and money he has raised as a singer and entertainer.

Each of the village's 40 huts has an electric light and the generator powers a pump to bring up water from the village's well.

He said: "They have never had any lighting.

"Until now they have had to burn candles at night.

"Some of the villagers have lost toes and fingers or are blind because of leprosy and it has been hard for them to get buckets of water out of the well.''

Mr Farley, who also took food and cash to an orphanage and took photographs of war graves near the River Kwai for the Burma Star Association, said the generator was blessed during a church service.

He said villagers were so grateful they offered him small denomination bank notes and small possessions as a token of their gratitude.

He added: "You can't believe the joy these people are experiencing because they have got a light at night. The generator is the greatest thing they have ever had.''

Mr Farley, who delivered aid to war-torn Bosnia in the 1990s, heard about the leper village from friends who teach English in Burma.