TV PRESENTER Carol Vorderman helped celebrate links between schools in Denbighshire and Nepal at a special event in Llangollen.

The Countdown star is the Honorary President of the Brick Children School in Tikathali, Nepal, a project run by North Wales-based charity the Phoenix Foundation.

Head of the foundation, Wrexham's David Phoenix, felt compelled to start fundraising after visiting Nepal in his role as Denbighshire's adviser for arts and international awareness.

He was moved by the plight of mountain people who had no land to farm and who were drawn down to the valley to work in the brickfields to earn a meagre living.

He vowed to create an educational environment for the children of the families forced into living and working in such poor conditions.

Carol was joined by teachers and pupils from Denbighshire schools who have forged unique relationships with Nepalese schools.

A spokesman for Lifelong Learning, who hosted the event at Llangollen's Royal International Pavilion, said: 'Many of our primary and secondary schools have created strong educational links with Nepal schools. We have all been touched by their plight and their determination to improve their quality of life by offering a better education to local children.

'Children in Denbighshire have created a close relationship with their Nepalese counterparts. The links have improved their understanding of different cultures and geography skills.

'We were delighted to host this very important celebration of achievements made, and look forward to improving upon these links in the future.'

The ceremony included a contemporary dance piece based on the Brick Children's School by pupils from Ysgol Bryn Collen, Llangollen, and included four soldiers from the Gurkha Display Team performing a Kukri dance.