THE people of Farnworth are being called upon to help rebuild communities devastated in the Nepal earthquakes.

A Must For Dolakha (AMFD) is marking a year on from the earthquakes which killed almost 9,000 people and left millions homeless with an appeal to its local community.

The Farnworth and Kearsley-based charity was set up to help provide facilities, including schools and health care, for children, disabled and elderly people living in the mountainous Dolakha region of Nepal.

In the aftermath of the earthquakes AMFD has been trying to feed and shelter the villages where it has operated.

On Monday, exactly a year on from the quake, AMFD hit the streets to drum up support and show off the work it has been doing to help rebuild communities.

Treasurer Paul Heslop said: "We want to raise awareness and raise fundraising. We are certainly the only charity in Farnworth and Kearsley of this nature and we would love local people to get on board and help show what great work the town can do.

"We set up in the canopy on Higher Market Street and had lots of people coming and agreeing to become regular donors. Our fellow Farnworthians were doing us proud!

"Dolakha is one of the worst affected areas in all of Nepal, we were there before the quake helping to build schools but they were damaged by the earthquake.

"Out ultimate aim is to rebuild the schools. We go out to Nepal and have seen how things have not improved, there are still children taking lessons outside what remains of the school. We want to spur people on to support a local charity helping an international cause."

The AMFD charity was started by John O'Connell, of Kearsley, who spent time teaching in a Dolakha village, and residents of Farnworth and Kearsley.

In the earthquakes of April and May 2015 all of the buildings in the villages that where AMFD operate were destroyed and villagers are still living in their temporary homes today.

To find out more visit the 'A must for Dolakha NEPAL earthquake charity' Facebook page.