DURSLEY Lions Club has given £5,000 to Lions clubs in Sri Lanka to aid recovery after the tsunami disaster.

The Lions are also considering plans for a major long-term support project in Sri Lanka.

The donation, taken from last year's beer festival, follows a visit to Dursley by past district governor Brian Dawson who, when he was in office, established a close contact with Sri Lankan Lions clubs.

He told Dursley Lions that the need in Sri Lanka was for continued support to provide accommodation and to particularly help the many children orphaned by the tsunami.

Dursley Lions will consider supporting a project there when the Sri Lankan Lions clubs have identified one.

This latest donation is in addition to the £20,316 given away to causes local, national and international, in the second half year up to the end of December 2004.

Dursley Lions has also donated furniture to the value of nearly £300.

Lions president Ray Titheridge said: "Like everyone else we are all horrified by the extent and power of the tsunami and the destruction that followed.

"Currently there is a huge amount of sympathy and giving towards the disaster appeal, but there will be a long-term need for money and support to rebuild and rejuvenate the destroyed communities.

"Internationally, Lions are donating money through the Lions Clubs International Foundation which was set up years ago to provide support following such disasters and major tragedies of all kinds.

"We tend to give money to Lions clubs in the disaster area so that they can provide for local needs, but in one case in Sri Lanka, every member of a local Lions club was wiped out by the tidal wave.

"The money we have donated will be allocated by surviving Lions in the area." Dursley's newest member, Marcus Monaghan has created a website for the club - www.dursleylions.org <http://www.dursleylions.org/>

Dursley Lioness Club has donated £500 to the Lions Clubs International Foundation for relief in the devastated area.