Work to rebuild a town ripped apart by an horrific tsunami on the other side of the world with money raised in Pembrokeshire looks set to be completed later this year.

S.T.A.R.T. (The Sri Lankan Trust to Aid and Rebuild Tangalle) has raised in the region of £80,000 since being founded following the 2004 Boxing Day tragedy by local solicitor Paul Cowper and his wife Jane.

The couple themselves had a miraculous escape from the tsunami which hit the town of Tangalle in southern Sri Lanka where they were staying with family and friends in a beach house.

Explained Paul, a partner with Lowless and Lowless Solictors: "The tsunami caught the attention and sympathy of the whole world. Individuals, schools, societies, churches and various organisations had raised large sums of money. Many were uncertain who to give it to. We decided to form S.T.A.R.T. as a local charity to help the devastated coastal community to rebuild itself."

The town of Tangalle and its small harbour is sandwiched between two beautiful stretches of beach.

"It is very similar to Tenby in fact," Paul continued. "People were attracted to our commitment to ensure that the money they had raised went directly to people who had suffered in the tsunami.

"And that is exactly what we have done over the last three years. Through our contacts in Sri Lanka and three return visits by myself, we have been able to see exactly where the money has been spent.

"We have helped to restore the hospital which was overwhelmed by the disaster and we have re-built homes for five families made homeless by the tsunami."

S.T.A.R.T. has also invested in a number of schools. "We twinned Greenhill School with a secondary school in Tangalle and through our aid, the school has been transformed and the children greatly value the links with a foreign school," said Paul. "Now we plan to do the same at primary level by twinning a primary School in Pembrokeshire with one in Tangalle."

S.T..A.R.T. has only been able to achieve what it has due to the hard work and commitment of its small group of trustees, who are all local people.

Now the charity intends to complete its work this year.

Paul will travel to Sri Lanka shortly where he will look at potential projects, visit schools, assess their needs and identify a twinning partner.

In 2005, Paul visited a large number of schools and societies and gave talks about the tsunami, its impact and the work of S.T.A.R.T. He is planning another series of talks following his forthcoming visit and anyone who would like to arrange for him to visit their school or organisation, is invited to contact him on (01834) 842122.