IN the Western world, the idea of killing newborn baby girls is both inconceivable and abhorrent.

Yet the practice still exists in some parts of India, where females are seen as a financial burden - and are murdered purely because of their gender.

Thankfully for these babies, orphanages like the Yashua Sanctuary in Goa exist, where they can be cared for instead of facing the horrific alternative.

The centre in Vasco da Gama was set up by Little Clacton man, Marty Wright, three years ago.

He explained: "I first went to India on a year-long trip to do humanitarian work.

"I felt there was a lot I could do over there, and decided to set up an orphanage."

The 38-year-old spent time in India making contacts, and soon met fellow charity worker, Venus Habib, with whom he went into partnership on the project.

"I bought a flat on the sea front and then spent time doing it up," said Marty, who lives on Elm Road in Little Clacton when he is in the UK.

"We soon had a call to say a woman was desperately trying to give up her newborn baby girl, who would otherwise be murdered.

"Hope Blanche was the first fruit of Yashua Sanctuary."

In the years which followed, the centre has taken in eight other little girls from the Hyderabad area, where the practice of killing female babies is still prevalent.

Marty says the girls are all thriving despite their turbulent start to life.

"Hope is excelling at her nursery school and receiving good reports from the teachers," he said.

"All her sisters are also making noticeable improvements in their learning and general well being."

Now, Marty and Venus have acquired an 8,000 sq m plot of land in Hyderabad, where they hope to create a new children's home and school.

It is an ambitious project, likely to cost £750,000 over the next few years.

"We want to form a community within a community, which is totally self-sufficient and not dependant on foreign aid," said Marty, a support worker.

"We also hope to use the facilities there to educate people, to help eliminate the practice of killing baby girls."

The Yashua Sanctuary is looking for trustees to help with fundraising for the centres at Goa and Hyderabad.

A meeting at 7pm on Saturday, October 20 at Frinton Parish Church will offer potential volunteers more information.

Call Sue Jenkins from the church on 01255 850317 for more details, or email marty.wright@yashuasanctuary.org More information on the centre can also be found at the link below.