STAFF at a Bishop Auckland factory are close to raising £1,000 for the Asian tsunami appeal.

Workers at Mechetronics, on the South Church Industrial Estate, started collecting money soon after Christmas when they ran a tombola of unwanted gifts, chocolates and bottles, including gifts to the company from suppliers.

This raised £400. A further £350 came from the company's 79 staff who supported a sponsored hair cut and shave by sisters Shelley and Sonia Bell, from Shelley's Hairdressers, at St Helen Auckland.

John Burdon, senior quality engineer, said: "The company has offered to match every penny raised by the staff."