A NORTH-EAST couple have provided a haven for a family of five left homeless after the Asian tsunami.

They have also ensured that thousands of pounds raised in villages in Weardale, County Durham, have gone towards rebuilding the lives of families in the Sri Lankan village of Ahungalla, where the couple have had a home for seven years.

Garage owner Tony Watson and his wife, Myrtle, have returned home from Sri Lanka after they spent what they described as a harrowing two weeks amid the devastation in the regions hit by the tsunami.

They have offered their villa as a home for their houseboy, Pyranta, his wife, Nona, and their three children, Frederica, Isuru and Danny, who have been made homeless.

Mrs Watson said: "They have lost literally everything and they have not got the money or the land to build a new home.

"We have had no alternative but to let them move into our villa until we can try to help them find a new home of their own."

During the height of the tsunami, Pyranta feared he had lost all his children in the waves, and phoned the Watsons, who were at home in Frosterley, Weardale, in the middle of the night to tell them the news.

The next day, Swiss businessman Charly Berger, who also has a villa in Sri Lanka, called to say the children had been found, although the youngest child, Danny, is still traumatised following the disaster.

Mrs Watson said: "I was so overcome when I saw the whole family, I burst into tears.

"Pyranta has been helping us repair the damage to our villa, which is much worse than we first thought.

"To give you some idea of the violence of the waves, furniture was thrown around the rooms and the villa's big antique wooden doors have just disappeared."

The Watsons are pleased at how the money they have raised in Weardale is being spent in the village of Ahungalla.

More than £5,000 has so far been paid into a bank account set up in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, by them and Mr Berger.

Most of the funds have gone towards building two houses and buying fishing boats and nets for villagers to help villagers carry on working.

Mrs Watson said: "It was marvellous to see how the money raised in Weardale has found its way to the place where it is most needed."

She and her husband said they were grateful for the help they have received, particularly from children organising fundraising events at primary schools in the dale.

She said: "There is still a tremendous lot of work to be done in places like Ahungalla, and we aim to send more money out there soon."

* Anyone wishing to help the Weardale Tsunami Relief Fund is asked to call Mrs Watson on (01388) 528496.