THREE Evesham men received hard-earned qualifications this week, their studies having been disrupted by the urgent needs of victims of the Asian tsunami on Boxing Day, 2004.

NVQ level two qualifications in distribution, warehousing and storage operations were awarded to staff members from Evenproducts Ltd, Dennis Burnside, David Cole and Tony Smith.

The men worked day and night for around five months after the disaster to supply the countries most badly affected with water tanks, distribution equipment and other items, such as pick-axes and shovels.

They started the qualifications in December 2004 but had to suspend the completion of the NVQ's whilst orders to countries like Thailand were fulfilled. They continued where they had left off in August 2005, when the worst was over.

Rose Lown, of Evenproducts Ltd, said: "The phone started ringing the day after Boxing Day and when we officially returned after Christmas, our chaps really hit the ground running.

"Many of the factory and dispatch staff were working a 10-hour day and some much longer. During the first five months of 2005, weekends off became a thing of the past and late fish-and-chip suppers the norm."

Evesham College principal David Blades, who presented the awards, said: "We are delighted to have worked with Evenproducts and their staff to support them in achieving these qualifications."