Two fundraisers touched by helping victims of the tsunami have set themselves a challenge to raise £90,000 in 90 days.

Gordon Cooke and Harry Barrow travelled to Sri Lanka earlier this month to help villagers in the east of the island rebuild their lives after the disaster, but were appalled by how little aid seemed to be getting through.

Mr Cooke, of Addingham, said: "None of the millions of pounds raised by the West for victims of the Tsunami is reaching them.

"A lot of the aid is tied up by Government red tape and unless you literally take money out there in suitcases people like the villagers we are helping will get nothing."

Mr Cooke, 55, said he wanted to raise the money to help rebuild the village of Thirukovil.

"The villagers have lost their school, their homes and their livelihoods," he said. "A lot of them are living in tents and the first thing we want to do is put up more secure shelters before the rainy season starts."

Mr Cooke and Mr Barrow, a pensioner from Huddersfield, also want to rebuild the school as quickly as possible.

"It needs structural work, new equipment, a library and a playground," said Mr Cooke a partner in Aztec, a conservatory roofing business.

The two men met for the first time on the trip.

"It was nice to meet someone from so close to home," said Mr Cooke who had his own health problem whilst flying out to Sri Lanka.

"When I stopped in Qatar on the way I collapsed after a problem with my heart and had to be admitted to hospital for 24-hours," said Mr Cooke. "Fortunately it turned out to be a reaction to one of the vaccinations I had to have."

After arriving in Sri Lanka Mr Cooke travelled by car for ten hours to the village.

"It was terrible to see the devastation caused by the disaster along the way," he said. "When I arrived at the village and met Harry we very quickly agreed that we both wanted to do more to help."

The pair have now planned a 90-day fundraising extravaganza to hit their total of £90,000. "It's almost 90 days since the disaster so that is where the idea came from," said Mr Cooke.

They have set up a charity called Bridge 4 Hope.

"I know lots of people through my business and we will also be fundraising through the churches we attend," said Mr Cooke.

The pair are making badges from photographs of some of the children in the village to sell for £1.

"Hopefully seeing pictures of the people they are helping will urge the pubic to buy them," he said. They also hope to hold a fundraising dinner and auction in Ilkley and are looking for volunteers to help organise some of the fundraising events.

"Once we hit our total, or maybe even more, we will go to Sir Lanka and start distributing money and helping the people in the village rebuild their lives," said Mr Cooke.

Donations can be made direct to the Yorkshire Bank, by visiting the website at www.bridge4hope.co.uk or by calling 07766 495202.