BUILDING houses for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka is a New Year challenge Ken Allcock is looking forward to.

Mr Allcock, of Lansdowne Terrace, Malvern, will visit Hikkaduwa in April to help Actionaid rebuild homes and public buildings destroyed in the disaster.

He needs to raise at least £3,000 for travel costs, materials, tools and a charity donation before he leaves and is appealing to local people and organisations for sponsorship.

Mr Allcock said he decided to take up the challenge when he read about it in an Actionaid newsletter sent to his wife Eileen.

"I've never been attracted to charity walks or rides but this felt different," he said. "I'm actually going to be involved with local people helping them to build their homes as many don't have capital resources or building materials.

"I worked in the building industry for 30 years and, althouhg I'm not a professional builder, I am useful."

Mr Allcock, a community mediator, has been raising money by inviting friends and neighbours to dinner parties in return for donations. He is also appealing to businesses to sponsor him by running fundraising raffles.

A draw organised by the Take Two group raised £104 for the project and his former employer, Spicers Builders Ltd, also ran a raffle that raised £183.

Anyone able to help can contact him on 01684 569246 or make a donation on- line at www.justgiving.com/ kenallcock.

Mr Allcock is not the only local man involved in the challenge as Dave Cropp, of Martley, is also taking part.