A CRADLEY couple who escaped unharmed when the tsunami hit Sri Lanka are continuing their fundraising efforts after returning home.

Richard Williams and Swarni Seneviratne have raised almost £17,000 so far and plan to build three houses near Galle for families whose houses were destroyed by the waves.

They stayed on in Sri Lanka after the disaster, organising aid and raising funds, returning to Cradley on Friday (January 7).

Ms Seneviratne, originally from Sri Lanka, said it was a shock to come back to Britain.

"In Sri Lanka it's all anybody can talk about," she said. "I've been very lucky, I haven't lost anyone. Most people you talk to have lost a family member, friend or somebody they know. It's very, very sad."

Mr Williams and Ms Seneviratne were given a list of ten families who need new homes by the divisional secretary of Galle and are now faced with the difficult task of deciding which three families should get the houses.

They plan to return to Sri Lanka on February 14 to see how the project is going.

Anyone who would like to donate funds should email Mr Williams at richard@mercantileinvestors.com or call 0870 75880088.