THEY may live thousands of miles apart but their friendship is as strong as if they were neighbours.

And now inspirational young people at Hardy Mill Primary School, Harwood, are helping their friends in Nepal rebuild their lives following the devastating earthquake.

The year five class have struck up a close friendship with orphans in Kathmandu, after a skype session in October organised by Rev Ian Smart, Minister of Harwood Methodist Church. Since then the children have been working on school projects together.

News of the earthquake made pupils determined to help the youngsters at them Glorious Ministry, who are living in tents, too scared to go back into their now derelict building.

Jo Briggs, headteacher, said: "Obviously the children were concerned, the whole school was about what had happened in Nepal, but the year five children knew the orphanage was in Kathmandu and the orphans were in danger.

"Ian came into school to tell the pupils the children were fine and everyone was okay."

After being reassured their friends were okay, they youngsters organised a sponsored run which raised £2,000 towards the £23,000 cost of rebuilding cost of the orphanages — encouraging the whole school to get involved.

Sam Lee, aged 10, said: “ When we heard that there had been a devastating earthquake, we had to help our friends in Kathmandu.

"Our goal was to raise at least £500 but we managed to raise £1500 more. It’s just amazing.”

Ella Foster, aged 10, said: "We got to know them really well and how they go through their daily lives.

"After we heard about the earthquake, we knew something had to be done to help fix their damaged home.”

Mr Smart, who is chairman of the Uncle UK charity which is working on the ground to help the children and other victims of the earthquake said: "It is inspiring to see how much their friends mean to them, they wanted to know how much they could help, they wanted to make a difference.

“The children did not talk about people in a country, they were talking about their friends.”

Mr Smart said children were still living in tents as the country was suffering from aftershocks, but the rainy season would mean they would have to go inside soon, something which is proving to be difficult given the psychological effects the earthquake has had on people.

“If a lorry goes by or a plane and there is a rumble, the children run outside thinking it is an earthquake,” he explained.

Mr Smart, who is in regular contact with the orphanage, praised the generosity of the people of Bolton for helping the people of Nepal, saying that every penny donated to Uncle UK went to supporting the victims.

Anybody who would like to donate to the fund should visit http://www.uncleuk.org/