YOUNG people are spending their spare time and holidays packing up clothes to be sent to an Aids hospice in Zambia.

Children from a youth club at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, are working voluntarily to make sure everything is ready for shipping out.

Oxfordshire County Council social worker Janet Kirkley, who lives at Holton, is masterminding the youngsters' efforts through the charity Funfani.

She said: "We are all very grateful to these young people who are so willing to help us by giving up their time.

"All the aid goes directly to the people who need it."

She said the hospice in Kitwe looked after a dozen children orphaned by Aids. Several also have the disease.

She added: "What is not used by the hospice goes to the street children of Kitwe.

"Our aim is to make the hospice self-sufficient in food and that is why the charity has also sent out money that has been used to buy livestock.

"I did some Voluntary Service Overseas work in Zambia when I was younger and that is why I am trying so passionately to help."

Funfani - the word means Ask - is a new charity, based in Faringdon Road, Abingdon.

It has 300 registered members in Oxfordshire who pay money every year in subscriptions and the charity also gets donations of cash and clothing to help with the work.

A major fundraising event is being organised for next year.

The event, Art for Africa, will organise the auction of hundreds of specially commissioned art objects for Funfani.