A COMMUNITY worker in Dorchester is asking for help supporting a much poorer society.

Kris Hallett of Dorset Community Action wants to help a pre-school she discovered when visiting friends in Fiji.

The Waya Lai Lai Learning Centre is for under-fives and is near Nadi.

It is funded only by parents in the village.

Mrs Hallett said: "I would like to arrange to send them out a crate of learning and play resources from the generous people of Dorset - the bigger the better.

"I am looking for donations of anything that will help under-fives with their education.

"They do not have choice of variety, so it is difficult to purchase what they need in Fiji.

"The nearest shops are hours away by boat and they don't have internet or telephone."

Mrs Hallett is asking for play items or cash to be donated through her until the end of May.

Suggestions for donations include musical instruments, puzzles, flash cards, books, posters and art and craft materials. English is the main language in Nadi.

Mrs Hallett explained: "Since the previous teacher left two years ago - taking all the learning resources they had with her - the pre-school has struggled.

"They have the most minimum of basic things such as pencils, crayons and paper.

"The smallest of donations, cash or items, is welcome and will eventually add up to a large total.

"I know how generous the people of Dorset are from previous appeals I have sought help with and feel we could pull together and give this village a helping hand as a one-off gesture."

Donations should be sent to Mrs Hallett at Community House, The Barracks, in Bridport Road, Dorchester.