Ref. 75822-28TSUNAMI APPEAL: TOTS at a Cricklade nursery are doing their bit to help young survivors of the tsunami tragedy.

Dozens of pupils at Meadowpark Nursery and Pre-prep School, in Calcutt Street, have got involved in the massive relief effort by collecting tins of much-needed baby food.

Now there are enough tins to stretch from one end of the school to the other a distance of 69 metres.

Delighted headteacher Rajvinder Kular said that youngsters, who range from three months to seven years old, were determined to lend a hand.

"As a school we thought that we wanted to do something to help the survivors," she said.

"The Wiltshire Mercy Appeal informed us that one of the things they were especially short of was baby food.

"This is better than collecting cash. The young ones can see exactly how they will be helping other children." So far, more than 1,000 tins have been collected since the school re-opened a fortnight ago following the Christmas break.

"Although many of the children are too young to understand the full effects of this tragedy they knew they wanted to help just like the adults.

"The collection has gone very well, much better than we had expected."

The tins will be taken to Wroughton Airfield on Sunday where they will join other aid packages to be dispatched to the disaster zone."

Matt Monet, an appeal organiser based at the airfield, said he was touched by the school's generosity.

"I am amazed that the tragedy is still fresh in children's minds," he said.

"It's surprising how much children take in at such a young age and it's great to see them thinking of others."

The school's last Ofsted report praised the quality of teaching and the strong sense of community at the school, which celebrates its 10th birthday this year.

l LORRIES will be making the trip from Wroughton to London every day this week. Volunteers are urgently needed between 10am and 1pm to help load containers. For information call Matt Monet on 07708 415362.

Kevin Shoesmith