FOUR years may have passed since the tsunami brought death and destruction across the Indian Ocean.

But as towns and villages continue to rebuild after the disaster, a Southampton community has given them another cash boost.

Thousands of pounds have been donated to help people affected by the tsunami start their own businesses.

Members of Southampton’s Vedic Society Hindu Temple have donated £12,850 to a charity in Sri Lanka.

A cheque was presented to Yala Fund, which helps people in the country affected by the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004, which killed 250,000.

The money was raised from donations over 18 months and since then the temple’s trustees have been looking for a suitable charity.

They chose Yala Fund, set up by former journalist Jon Ashworth, after one of the temple’s trustees, Rajkuma Chadda, learned all the money would go directly to helping families in Sri Lanka caught up in the disaster.

He said: “I would like to thank the local community, the committee members of Vedic Society, and especially all the shopkeepers in Southampton, who helped to raise the tsunami fund. Their help and support is very much appreciated.”

Avinash Patel, the temple’s chairman of trustees, said: “We have scrutinised the charity and are pleased that every penny will go directly to tsunami victims.

“Some of the money will help provide loans to families to help them set up their own business.

“The remainder will go on helping to build schools, buy school uniforms and children’s shoes, equip science labs and help local communities.”

Mr Ashworth, who founded Yala Fund three years ago, said he was very grateful to the temple and would return next year to give an update on how their money was being spent.