An Ilkley aid worker is hoping to set Peruvian families up in business after their homes and livelihoods were washed away in devastating floods six months ago.

Leander Hollings (pictured) is appealing for £14,000 to establish a training centre so residents in the Cusco region to rear guinea pigs for the domestic and international markets.

Emergency relief has now subsided after torrents of rain washed away roads, crops and thousands of homes in January.

Leander, who runs the charity Mysmallhelp, is working as a director for the charity Casa Hogar del Sol. She said: “We don’t want to ‘give’ anymore without helping to create businesses and income for the flood victims.

“Our dream is to set up cuylandia – a guinea pig rearing training centre – and accompanying guinea pig businesses for at least 25 families before the end of this year.

“We are still urgently looking for funds to keep the project going on an ongoing basis. We are also looking for volunteers to come and work with us.”

Details of how to make a donation can be found at www.mysmallhelp.org.