Pupils at the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour who are sponsored through Temple Methodist Church's Palestinian Partnership.

Budleigh residents have supported a link with schoolchildren in Palestine, which in its 13th year is stronger than ever.

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A coffee and hot cross bun morning was held at Temple Methodist Church in aid of its Palestinian Partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Beit Sahour.

The link was started in 2000 after the Reverend Jean Hughes – now semi-retired – led a pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine in 1999.

She said: “People came back asking what they could do to help, as they were very moved by the difficulties under which Palestinians were living.”

Mrs Hughes suggested finding a church with an attached school to link up with, and so the partnership with the Lutheran school began, sponsoring children through their education.

After 13 years of the scheme, 13 pupils are now being supported – many by members of the Temple congregation, with one sponsored by Lympstone Methodist Church and one by two ladies from Exmouth’s Tower Street Methodist Church.

The scheme has been a great success, with one of its beneficiaries now studying medicine at university in Frankfurt.

As well as sponsoring pupils, the partnership also sends annual donations to the church and school as Christmas and Easter gifts.

The coffee and hot cross bun morning raised a total of £230.50 for the Easter gift.

Mrs Hughes said: “The event was very successful – there was standing room only at one point. It’s a splendid total, which will enable us to send a larger than usual Easter gift to the school and church in Beit Sahour.”