A TSUNAMI survivor has raised a staggering £30,000 for victims of the Asian disaster, with the help of his famous friend, and has now begun building 100 homes for victims.

Robert Bateman of Waller Road, Beaconsfield was helped by friend and former Jam frontman Paul Weller to raise the money. The singer agreed to do a gig in London, organised by Robert, with the proceeds going to victims in Sri Lanka.

Mr Bateman's charity, Friends of Galle Project, is now pressing ahead to build more than 100 houses for homeless families on Sri Lanka's coast.

Mr Bateman, 36, is just one of many fundraisers in South Bucks trying to help those affected by the tsunami in Sri Lanka more than five months after the disaster struck. Mr Bateman was on a family holiday in Sri Lanka when the wave hit on Boxing Day.

He said: "One minute we were enjoying an idyllic breakfast and the next thing I knew the table was in the swimming pool and we are being washed out."

In March he revisited the village of Katagouda in the Galle region of Sri Lanka where 4,000 people died.

He said: "We stayed near there and I knew that was where I wanted my money to go."

The money will be used to replace some of the many homes destroyed and to help small businesses get back on their feet.

Elsewhere, a fund has been launched in memory of Wycombe Hospital consultant Salpiti Harischandra by his former colleagues in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department.

Mr Harischandra, 40, known affectionately to friends and colleagues as Hari, was swept out to sea with his wife Jilani as they travelled in a bus when water raced inland. Their bodies were never recovered.

John Capper, a consultant ENT surgeon, said: "Hari was a tremendously popular person during his time here and made friends with all those he met."

The money will be used to support the Harischandras' sons, Anu, seven, and Janu, six, left orphaned by the disaster and now being cared for by relatives.

For details about Robert's charity call him on 01494675530 or www.galleproject2005.co.uk