THE Penarth and District Lesotho Trust will be holding an event to educate local people about the drought crisis currently taking place in the African nation.

Group trustee Jeremy Dix recently visited the country where he witnessed the crisis first hand, being photographed stood where water would normally be well above his head.

Trustee Keith Howells said: "Where Jeremy Dix was standing in the picture should not be possible. At many times of the year the water would normally be over his head.

"But this is not a normal year in Lesotho and nor was the last. The rains for which Lesotho is famous and which supply parts of South Africa, have failed to come and so has the harvest. Any crops which did manage to germinate failed to develop because of lack of water. And this is the second year this has happened."

With the country in a state of emergency, the Penarth and District Lesotho trust believe that Wales - which is twinned with Lesotho - has a responsibility to help to minimise the disaster and be generous in its support.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the situation can attend Stanwell Road Baptist Church on Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm.

Attending will be BBC correspondent Garry Owen whose moving programme 'Lesotho drought crisis' will be screened, and also Gwenallt Rees who accompanied Mr Owen on his recent visit.

The Penarth and District Lesotho Trust are also fundraising at a Fun Run on Saturday, June 18 at 11am in Cosmeston Country Park.