ARMY medic Jon Martin has appealed to people in Devizes to help a school in Kabul, Afghanistan, which was virtually destroyed in the civil wars of recent years.

Mr Martin, a former Devizes School pupil who is now a Lance Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps, came across the school which has walls but little else. He said: "The school caters for children between the ages of seven and 20 but lacks basic facilities such as sanitation, windows and what roofs survive are pock-marked with bullet and shell holes.

"The children don't have the tools to learn with, such as pens, pencils, rulers and so on. All this leaves them with very little chance of getting an education which we take for granted.

"I'm asking people if they would help with the collection of stationery items for the kids, or a little cash to help them rebuild their school."

Time to collect the material is very short as L/Cpl Martin's company is due to go on leave in early July.

If anyone can help, they can contact Mrs Martin on (01380) 725395. Small parcels can be sent straight to Kabul and Mrs Martin has the address.