Organisers of a three-year project to raise more than £90,000 for Uganda have paid tribute to the generous people of Nailsea after exceeding its target.

Community leaders launched the Nailsea Uganda Water Project (NUWP) in September 2012 to pay for water supplies in six villages.

Individuals, community groups, schools, churches and businesses put on a host of events to raise cash for the appeal, raising a total of £95,500.

In a letter to the community, members of the project’s committee said: “We want to say how grateful and thankful we are for your amazing support over the past three years.

“You have taken the project to your heart and given so generously. So many, from the younger to the older members of the community, have been involved in many different ways.

“So much has changed for the villagers who were living in hopelessness, a daily drudge of several hours to get contaminated water.

“We have been able to finance small changes and these have made an enormous difference to the lives of the next generation living in Muhabura.

“With training in building skills, better hygiene and more time they can carve out a better life and face the future with hope.

“We have also inspired other groups to get involved – so where we leave off they will continue – they are already planning the next phase in more villages.”

Nailsea was the first town to have worked as a community to support a project with Tearfund.