READERS of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph have been praised for their 'wonderful achievement' in raising more than £27,000 for children affected by floods in Mozambique.

About 950,000 people were left in need of humanitarian assistance, with 190,000 victims under five years old, when the floods hit earlier this year. The Lancashire Evening Telegraph appeal was launched in response to the disaster and more than £10,000 was donated in less than a week.

David Bull, the executive director of the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, said: "I can say with true conviction that through the response of Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers, children's lives have been saved.

"The UK Committee for UNICEF has been overwhelmed by the scale of public response to our appeal.

"There can be nobody in this country that has not been moved by the plight of the Mozambican people who have lost their homes, their belongings, their sources of income and in some cases, members of their family."

The fund continues to help families and communities rebuild their lives after the tragic natural disaster.

The long term objectives of UNICEF's work are to provide access to clean water and sanitation systems, to keep children free from the threat of disease by immunisation programmes and to get them back into school.

Mr Bull added: "Our work relies heavily on support from local individuals, businesses and community organisations. The appeal run by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has been instrumental in enabling us to reach thousands of children in need. My thanks to you all."