A TEENAGE Kosovar Albanian living in York told today of her fears for relatives and friends trapped in the Balkan conflict.

Kosovar schoolgirl Era Gjurgjeala at the Mount School, York, looks forward to the time when she can return home

Era Gjurgjeala, 17, also spoke of her support for the Nato bombing campaign, saying it was the only way to end the oppression suffered by her people.

Speaking as news broke of Nato's bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, in which at least three people were killed, she said: "Someone had to do something, we have suffered too long."

Era arrived in England from her home in Pristina, Kosovo, last September and is studying in the sixth form on a full scholarship at the Mount School, in York. Behind her pretty, serene features are sad eyes - terrified by the events taking place in her homeland.

"I am very concerned about my grandparents and friends. It makes me so frightened when I watch the television," she said.

Era's parents escaped from Kosovo five days after the Nato bombing began, but had to leave her elderly grandparents behind because they were too elderly to manage the car journey to safety.

She faced an agonising wait for news before finally hearing that her parents were safe, staying with friends in Macedonia.

Era's parents now make contact by phone every two weeks. Era said: "I don't even know if I have a home anymore.I don't want to ask my parents, but it doesn't matter in the scale of things, it's irrelevant."

Sarah Hebron, deputy headteacher at the school, said: "We have enormous respect for Era and the way she is dealing with it, it's beyond belief." The school raised more than £500 for Kosovar refugees this week in a charity lunch.

Era said: "Life here is very different. I have grown up under oppression and in fear." She is hoping to go on to university in Britain, but needs financial help and is seeking sponsorship. "I definitely want to go back when I've done my degree. There is not going to be many people who have the knowledge and skills to re-build the area. It is my duty to help - and my wish."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.