Dolls' house aids appeal

The youngster, of Liden who attends Liden Primary School, asked her mum, Terry, if she could sell her dolls' house for the disaster zone's survivors.

Korie is hoping to get at least £80 for the miniature Georgian-style building which has been her pride and joy since she was given it for her sixth birthday.

Mrs O'Hare, 34, who works at Liden Pre-school, said she was taken aback about the gesture.

"It was always her dream to get a dolls' house and spent a lot of time playing with it so I was shocked when she said she wanted to sell it," she said.

"She said she wanted to do it because she recognised that people over there needed our help. And she saw how heartbroken children without mums and dads were.

"She did it off her own back. I checked with her a couple of days later and she still said she wanted to do it."

Paul Kohn, headteacher of the primary school, said it was a selfless act.

Mrs O'Hare's two other children, Christopher, nine, and Brody, four, have also done their own bit for the tsunami appeal.

They donated old toys to Liden Primary School which helped raise £131 in a jumble sale.

"They all wanted to do their bit to help," said Mrs O'Hare.

To raise further funds after the half-term holiday, pre-school pupils will be making and selling bookmarks and elephant-shaped biscuits.

Supervisor Trina Good-enough, 33, said that she was hoping to raise around £140.

"We have 60 children on our books and we are hoping their parents make £2 donations for the biscuits and bookmarks," she said.

Mrs Goodenough said the Boxing Day disaster had terrified the children.

"They came in after it happened and asked whether it would happen to them if they went on holiday," she said.

"But we explained to them that it was very rare and got some books out of the library to explain what the wave was.

"It was hard to explain to three and four year olds but when they understood they wanted to do their bit to help."

To make a bid for the dolls house phone 01793 485392.

Ben Payne