POLICE band chairman, Eddie Barry, found out for himself how money raised through a concert in Kidderminster has been helping victims of the devastating tsunami in Sri Lanka.

The Band of West Mercia Constabulary raised more than £6,800 from the concert and donations to provide two years education for 29 students.

Mr Barry, a retired police superintendent who lives in Kidderminster, has just returned from the Paiyagala area of the stricken country where young students who lost everything in the disaster are rebuilding their lives.

He toured the area with a local Catholic priest who is looking after the project, funded by the band.

"It was an incredibly humbling and moving visit," said Mr Barry, adding: "I heard some incredible stories during my visit and it was good to see that help is reaching people, although nothing is happening very quickly and they still need an awful lot of support."

The band raised funds at the concert staged in January at Kidderminster Town Hall, which also featured the Kidderminster Male Choir and women's choir, the Kidderminster Valentines.

Since then, many donations have been received, including £430 from the Pensax Thrift Shop.

Mr Barry said donations were still coming in and the band was planning an anniversary concert next January.

"We are very grateful to everyone who has supported our fund-raising efforts, which we hope will top £10,000," he added.