A MAKESHIFT school in a slum area of Kenya is set to be re-developed, thanks to some of the people of Upton-upon-Severn.

Parishes throughout Upton deanery are joining forces with All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi to raise cash for the school.

The funds will be handed out to Anajali School in Kibera, on the outskirts of Nairobi, to improve facilities.

More than 130 pupils are crammed into three mud huts for their lessons and are without proper toilets and a playground.

The village of Kibera houses 800,000 people in galvanised shacks, with no water or sanitation and until a few months ago there was no school.

"My daughter is a teacher in East Africa and contacted the school just over a year ago," said Lambert Bignell, one of the fund-raisers.

"The school was established about 18 months ago and we want to raise £5,000 in a year."

Mr Bignell has taken up a whistle-stop tour of nearby primary schools to raise awareness of the poor conditions in the school.

"We've got a faith lunch and an auction of promises planned with a professional auctioneer and have had a lot of prizes coming in, including two half-hour flights and golf lessons," added Mr Lambert.

The new appeal will be launched at Upton Church on Sunday, May 19, at 3pm, when the founder of the school, the Rev Cyprian Yobera, will speak.

Local schools will work alongside the 16 churches involved to raise cash for the renovation.

The lunch and auction of promises are planned for Sunday, June 16, at Bushley Village Hall.

The school is staffed by a volunteer headteacher and three volunteer teachers.

Funds are desperately needed as the school relies solely on donations of materials and money.

Anyone wanting to donate cash to the appeal should contact The Appeals Office at the Rectory, Old Street, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, WR8 OJQ, or call 01684 591241.