The founder of an orphanage in Central America, which is supported by people Oxfordshire, is visiting the county on Friday to express his thanks.

Senor Santiago Martinez, founder of the Tierra Santa orphanage for abandoned girls, will be with a party of 19 members of the Honduran Baha'i faith visiting England on their way to Haifa, in Israel, for the opening of an agricultural project on Mount Carmel.

Support from Abingdon helped the orphanage recover from the damage after Hurricane Mitch in October 1998.

A reception will be held at the Guildhall in Abingdon at 7.30pm on Friday, during which a video about the orphanage will be shown and there will be an opportunity to speak with Senor Martinez and members of the faith. The Honduran visitors will stay overnight with friends.