A CHARITY which aims to promote friendship and co-operation between the communities of Debden, Debden Green and Wimbish and Tang Ting in Nepal has launched a newly-designed website.

The Tang Ting Twinning Association (TTTA) was formed in 2007 with a ceremony at Carver Barracks, and since its inception has raised funds to build a day care centre for 50 children. A welfare fund has also been set up for the sick, disabled and poor providing essential medical supplies for the village.

The charity holds regular fundraising events and sells handmade goods from Tang Ting at the monthly farmer’s market held Debden Antiques on the first Saturday of the month.

Now it has set up a website – tangting.org – which features the latest news, events, on-line shop and photo galleries and gives visitors the chance to learn about the fascinating histories of Carver Barracks, the Nepalese Gurkhas as well as the villages of Debden and Wimbish.

Uttlesford district councillor for Debden and Wimbish Tina Knight said: “I hope as many people as possible will access the website as the number of visits we receive will help increase our profile and thus raise publicity and awareness of the charity.

“One of the most helpful things that our supporters can do is find the TTTA page on Facebook and click the ‘I Like This’ button. This will enable all their friends to see it and join up as well.”

Meanwhile, a balloon released in September as part of a TTTA fundraising event has reached an unlikely destination.

At a garden party at Warner’s Farm, Wimbish, 200 biodegradable helium-filled balloons were launched with a prize for the owner of the balloon that travelled the furthest.

In the weeks that followed, a number of cards were returned, many from the Canterbury area of Kent.

However, the winning balloon was found by Monsieur Didier Bouchet, a farmer, in a field near Amiens, France, over 233 miles away. The prize-winning balloon belonged to Mrs Bayliss of Wimbish.

An international voucher and souvenirs and photos of Debden and Wimbish have been sent to Monsieur Bouchet.