A volunteering experience in an eastern European orphanage has inspired a 25-year-old Tenby woman to launch a fund-raising appeal in Pembrokeshire.

Amie Duffy, of The Green, Tenby, spent three weeks at the Small Children's Rehabilitation Centre in Moldova, looking after disabled children and babies.

After the story about her plans appeared in local papers, she had £600 donated by well-wishers, which she spent in Moldova on essentials such as fruit and nappies for the orphans and paper and pens for children of poor local families.

Amie was also able to donate to an appeal for a new house for an impoverished family who had lost their home to a fire.

She now plans to once again pay her own expenses to return to the country after raising more money to help the homeless family and the disabled youngsters in the orphanage.

"I had an amazing experience in Moldova," said Amie, who worked as a nursery nurse before starting a new job as a learning support assistant at Tenby Infants School. "Meeting and bonding with the beautiful children, and giving them the love and attention that every child deserves was so special."

Amie, the daughter of Ian and Louise Duffy, was particularly moved by the plight of the homeless family, who risk being split up if they are unable to get together the 5,000 euro it will cost them to buy another property.

Explained Amie: "I can't emphasise how desperate their situation is. They have lost all their possessions, and now it is possible they could lose their most precious thing - their children.

"I would also really love to be able to raise some money to help the disabled children to make them more comfortable.

"I became very close to these children and I miss them so much. It made me very happy when they smiled back at me, but also sad to think what sort of life is ahead of them."

Amie will be running the Cardiff half-marathon on October 17 to raise funds and is happy to talk to local businesses and organisations about her appeal.

She can be contacted on [email protected]">[email protected]. Donations can be made at Barclays Bank, Tenby, made payable to Amie Duffy - Moldova Account.