A postal worker in Tytherington has been described as a "one in a million postie" after taking it upon herself to fundraise for a school in Uganda by donning fancy dress during her rounds and raising over £600.

Rhona Marshall MBE told Nub News how her local postie, Sandra Slack, took the initiative following a chat the pair had one on a warm day in May.

Rhona, who is a fundraiser for Christian Relief Uganda, said: "I noticed our Postie Sandra dashing around with the Mail and thought to myself, 'she must be parched'. I filled two glasses with water and waited until she hurtled around the corner to my front door."

Rhona, who lives in Tytherington, chatted with Sandra about how the lockdown had affected her ability to raise vital funds for a school her charity founded in Uganda almost 25 years ago.

She said: "I would normally be giving PowerPoint presentations and speaking at school assemblies about our school in Uganda also at WI, Rotary and Probus meetings but with lockdown I couldn't do any fundraising."

Rhona explained: "Sandra must have taken what I had said to account and thought, 'Rhona can't fundraise, so maybe I can.'"

Following their chat, Sandra asked her boss at the Royal Mail for permission to fundraise for the charity to help the children they support in rural Uganda.

Her unique idea was to don a new outfit for each of her shifts delivering post to residents on her rounds.

From Monday 27 July Sandra dressed in costumes such as Wonder Woman, to reflect her heroic efforts, and of course a post box.

Each day she wore a different outfit to deliver letters through the doors of residents in Tytherington.

On 1 August Sandra had collected over £650 including more than £400 in her tin post box, alongside cheques and money donated by Text, to help the children in Uganda.

Rhona said: "We had a great time on Saturday when various neighbours came along to clap and watch Cllr Lloyd Roberts, CRU Chairperson Julie Parker and myself give speeches and hand Sandra a certificate and a Ugandan Doll in recognition of Sandra's great initiative and support."

Explaining why Sandra's efforts were so important, Rhona said: "We have been running the school for 24 years, with the 25th anniversary coming next year. I went out to Uganda in 1995 as a friend was out there and we set up the charity in 1996.

"These people who are out in the villages are living in really third-world conditions. Those children have good brains just like you and me and they are desperate for education. That's top of the list for them."

On the impact the school can have on pupil's lives, Rhona spoke of an orphan called Alex who went on to set up a successful safari business in Uganda and is now living with his family in the US.

"I could go on and tell you so many more stories, we've had thousands of pupils over the 24 years," she said.

The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown has had a "catastrophic" impact on Rhona's ability to raise funds for the charity.

She described Sandra as "amazing" for taking the initiative to fundraise in this imaginative way at a difficult time for the charity.

"This was her idea and she was passionate about it as she was running around. When it comes from the heart it really shines through. She organised all of the costumes herself and everything else," Rhona said.

If you would like to support Christian Relief Uganda, you can text YUICO1 to 70970 to donate £5 or YUICO1 to 70191 to donate £10.

Or you can send a cheque to R Marshall. 52, Rugby Drive Tytherington SK10 2JD.

Christian Relief Uganda is registered with the Charity Commission with charity number 1055166.