SIXTH form pupils from St Patrick's High School have spoken of how deeply moved they were by their experiences when they travelled to Romania recently.

They spent a week visiting orphanages and other institutions on the school's second relief mission to the country.

Following last year's successful visit, the new sixth form pupils were keen to get involved and over the past few months have raised over �10,000 through Church collections, a charity football match and a coffee morning. The group had a very busy schedule in Romania visiting a new centre for children in Codlea and a special needs school and orphanage at Dacia.

Lee McNamee, Leanda Burns, Laura Matchett, Ciara McMullan who took part in the recent trip.

The pupils also visited a home housing 150 adults, before going to Timis where they provided a equipment for the Luncacalnicului School.

The group also visited a bah' orphanage and an elderly project and on their last day went to a TB clinic to deliver medical supplies, and then on to visit the Narnia Project, a venture monitoring the condition of street children.

Miss Shauna McAleer, the teacher in charge, was delighted to see the results achieved from last year's visit.

"St Patrick's pupils paid for an eye operation for a lady who could not see properly last year, but whose vision has been now corrected," she said.

"Hopefully on our next visit we will see the benefits of our recent relief mission."

She added: "We are extremely grateful for all the support we received to fund the trip. We would like to thank everyone for their donations, especially the local churches for their very generous contribution."