PRIMARY school pupils have given up their breaks for the past three weeks to hold fairs in the hall to raise money for people affected by the tsunami disaster in south-east Asia.

Youngsters from St Joseph's RC Primary School, in Front Street, Stanley, County Durham, hope to have raised £1,000.

Some of the money came from a sponsored fun run last week at Berry Edge, near Consett.

The rest has come from daily fairs with stalls selling cakes, games, books videos and toys, as well as offering side-show style games.

It was organised by the year six class and involved the whole school.

Thomas Nearney, 11, of Greencroft, Stanley, said: "We saw how bad the conditions were in Sri Lanka and the surrounding areas after the tsunami hit and we really wanted to do something to help."

The children have been given assemblies on the effect the disaster has had.

Jill Carr, 11, of Barnhill, Stanley, said: "We realise that we are lucky to have homes and wanted to raise money to help people get their homes back."

Headteacher Jill McBride said the children had done the work to organise the fairs. She said: "They have taken on board the scale of what has happened and taken on the responsibility of raising money.

"It has gone so smoothly and everyone has been involved. I am very proud of them and it has been humbling to watch."