A school has raised £35,000 to build houses for victims of the Boxing Day tsunami tragedy.

Parents and pupils at Brighton College, Brighton, have spent five months fund-raising to pay for ten homes in Sri Lanka.

The school's chaplain, Father Robert Easton, 42, has now laid the foundation stone of the first house in a village called Dalawella, 20 miles east of Galle.

Brighton College is also organising financial help for four Sri Lankan schools affected by the tragedy.

Fr Easton said: "These are people whose homes and lives have been destroyed.

"It is a life-changing experience to go out there and do something to help them."

Fr Easton and headmaster Anthony Seldon flew out to the country in February to find out how they could help after the tidal wave struck on December 26, 2004.

The school's cricket team had returned from a tour of Galle and Matara, one of the worst hit areas, just days before the disaster.

Pupils raised money by taking part in events such as sponsored swims, fashion shows and cake sales.

Fr Easton returned to Sri Lanka last week, and within 24 hours had struck a deal to start building the houses.

The new properties will house families of fishermen, grocers and hospital workers.

The school has also forged a cultural link with Bathegama school on the south coast, which was almost entirely demolished by the waves.

It is paying for basic materials such as pencils, books, computers and blackboards and is also sponsoring three other schools in the same area.

Fr Easton is keen for other schools in Brighton to get involved in similar projects.

He said: "It only costs £1,000 for a school to set up a direct link with a Sri Lankan school and that money really makes a difference."

Some of the college's A-level students are still raising money so they can go out to the country in August and help with the relief effort in Galle.

The school has also donated £5,000 to a school for deaf and blind children in the area and is setting up scholarships for talented young cricketers.

Any schools interested in getting involved with Sri Lankan building projects should call Fr Easton on 01273 704200.