A former News Extra reporter has been volunteering for a charity in Nepal.

Lewis Dyson, of Minster, spent several days with the NGO, Heart Beat, in the capital Kathmandu, which is still feeling the effects of two earthquakes that hit the country in April.

The organisation provides teaching and recreational activities to children from poor families through its facility known as the Dream Centre.

Mr Dyson taught English, held art activities and took part in activities such as the popular Nepali game, caroomboard, which resembles pool played with fingers on a wooden board.

The 27-year-old also helped with attempts to engage with street children who receive things like food, clothing and health check-ups from Heartbeat.

The group, aged from about eight to mid-20s, have no parents and were living in a wood.

Many of them have drug dependencies such as glue sniffing and cannabis.

Mr Dyson said: “The children at the Dream Centre were an inspiration.

They were ambitious, eager to learn and so cheerful.

“If pupils in the UK could spend a day in the shoes of these youngsters, they would never moan about having to go to school again.

“Seeing the conditions the street children live in was also an eye opener.

They literally have to fend for themselves and, apart from charities like Heartbeat, there’s no safety net for them to rely on.”

Heart Beat, founded in 2006, has provided relief, such as food and shelters, to villages decimated by the earthquakes.

Founder Juju Kaji said: “There are lots of children growing up on the streets after the earthquakes.

“We have already reached more than 2,000 kids through health camps, art, clowning and education support.”

For more details, search Heart Beat Nepal on Facebook.