WATCHET and Williton associate priest the Rev Kathryn Flenley and her husband Ben, associate vicar of the Quantock Towers parish, have been linked to the Kathryn’s Mercy Home Trust in Devakottai, South East India , since 1995.

Last year they raised nearly £10,000 for the charity, which provides hostel accommodation and education for youngsters from nine to 17, nursery and infant schools, and supports college and vocational courses.

The trust also provides homes for elderly women, funds village teachers, organises free medical camps, and courses in computers, tailoring and dressmaking.

Over 350 children are now being educated in primary schools.

Devakottai is in an arid area which supports agriculture for only six months of the year and with no factories or industry.

Previously, children had to travel up to 30 miles to school and few could afford to do so. Since the trust was established in 1988, nearly 200 youngsters have completed their higher secondary education or vocational courses.

Pupils have gone on to become engineers, teachers and nurses and one is studying for a PhD.