THIS week 15 years ago, Britons were urged to keep donating money to help those affected by the Indonesian earthquake, as the death toll continued to mount.

Local government officials said at least 4,300 people were killed, at the time, in the quake that hit the island of Java.

A further 200,000 people were homeless after the huge tremor tore apart countless mud brick homes in villages to the south of the ancient city of Yogyakarta.

As a result, families were spending the night sleeping in any open space available while being continually unsettled and terrified by aftershocks.

British aid workers involved in the relief effort said they had made good progress in distributing emergency supplies, but admit there was a long way to go.

The Government had pledged £4m in total - £1m to an international Red Cross appeal and £3m channelled through the UN.

Also that week, a cat had taken a liking to living the high life - by spending a month on the roof of a terraced house.

It had foiled rescue attempts by running from RSPCA officers and daring neighbours who have ventured up to bring it down.

Residents of George Street, in Darlington, had adopted the cat - which they have nicknamed Sooty - and throw food to the top of the two-storey building to help it survive.

The cat had become the talk of the neighbourhood, and a headache for potential rescuers.

But RSPCA officials said they were satisfied that Sooty was fit and well, and were happy to let it stay there.

Residents and visitors to George Street told The Northern Echo how Sooty was starting to become part of the community.

Samantha Beaumont said she was stunned it was still there after a month.

"Each time I visit, I'm convinced the cat must have gone by now, but it hasn't." she said at the time.