West Dorset MP Chris Loder has praised the impressive fundraising efforts of pupils from St Osmund's C of E Middle School in Dorchester.

The pupils have raised almost £3,000 for the charity Toilet Twinning, which helps provide safe toilets, clean water and hygiene training for some of the poorest communities in the world.

The charity invites people in the UK to donate £60 to 'twin' their toilet at home and help provide a family latrine overseas. In return they receive a certificate showing their 'toilet twin' abroad.

So far, the children at St Osmund's have twinned 49 toilets on the school site and called on local MP Chris Loder to join their campaign by twinning a toilet in the Houses of Parliament.

Mr Loder said: "Pupils at St. Osmund's have managed to twin 49 of their school's toilets and I am honoured to twin the 50th for them – a loo in the Houses of Parliament.

"The toilet twinning principle reminds us that not everyone has access to a safe and clean toilet; in fact, some 1.7 billion people in the Global South live without this most basic provision."

Mr Loder attended a dedicated event at the school this month, where he was presented with a Toilet Twinning certificate which will be on display at a Westminster toilet.