A DREAM safari holiday proved a real eye-opener for a Christian couple from the North-East.

Avril and Allan Richardson were shocked at the gulf between standards of Western holidaymakers and many of the impoverished local people in Kenya.

They returned home and decided to do something to offer a helping hand to poor Kenyan children.

Eleven years on, the Richardsons have returned almost every year on aid missions to Kenya, having set up their own registered charity, Children's Health Education Secured by Sponsorship, based on the premise that £5 a month sponsors a child through education in the East African nation. They have now supported hundreds of youngsters through schooling, and provide £50 a month to pay for a teacher.

The Richardsons have now helped three villages in the Mombassa area. Backed by friend Maureen Holland and a committee of helpers, mainly members of the congregation at the Bethany Christian Centre, in Houghton-le-Spring, they hope to raise enough funds to buy a vehicle to travel between the three villages. They also hope to buy a house for sponsors to stay in during trips with the Richardsons to see the problems.

"We're always trying to raise funds and what would really help is if we could get cheap air fares to fly to Nairobi," said Mrs Richardson.

Anyone wishing to help before the next aid mission to Kenya in the New Year, can contact the couple on 0191-415 7566, or write to 52 Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8AA.