TOWN centre shoppers donated more than £500 to the Asian tsunami appeal on Saturday after listening to music from a fairground organ.

The organ was played in Northallerton High Street by North Yorkshire County Councillor John Coulson, who was accompanied by family and friends.

In total, £532.60 was raised, which will be donated to the Friends of Mettupalayam Trust, a North Yorkshire-based project which has been supporting an Indian village for ten years.

The trust is trying to raise £100,000 to rebuild a village near Mettupalayam, which was devastated by the tsunami.

Coun Coulson had been aiming to raise £300 to buy a fishing boat for the community but the amount donated exceeded his expectations.

He said: "It was a very cold and windy day but we had a very good response. It was overwhelming at times."

Coun Coulson thanked Joanna Marco Interiors for allowing the organ to be played outside its town hall shop, and all the people who helped to collect money.