A GROUP of teenagers are on a fundraising mission to help orphans in war-torn Kosovo.

Five students from Huddersfield New College are preparing to travel to Gjakova next year to work with children affected by some of the worst atrocities in the conflict.

War ended in Kosovo, formerly part of Yugoslavia, in 1999 and left the country's infrastructure devastated.

The Kosovan people are rebuilding the country, but the conflict left many women without husbands and children without fathers.

It will be the second year running that students from the college have visited the area.

They will work alongside 20 Kosovan students to run daily sessions in art, music, dance, sport and drama.

The project is aimed at helping children aged eight to 13 who lost one or both parents in the war.

During three weeks of the conflict alone, 1,200 children in the town had one parent killed and 112 lost both.

Liz Heywood, performing arts teacher at the college, who is organising the trip, said: "We spent 10 days there in July and were moved and impressed by the people we met.

"In spite of their harrowing experiences they are rebuilding their lives."

The students now need to raise money to fund their own travel by next summer. They also have to contribute £100 each to help with the cost of running the project.

Unwanted equipment including paint, paper, musical instruments, games and sports gear is also needed to donate to the children.

Anybody who can help is asked to contact Liz Heywood on 01484 652341.