GENEROUS people from three small North-East villages have donated £5,700 to the tsunami appeal.

The huge collection, from Heighington, Redworth and the hamlet of Killerby, in County Durham, is even more impressive because the area has a population of only 1,300 adults.

The £5,669 was raised in several ways, including door-to-door collections, donations from churches and collections in shops, pubs and Heighington Primary School.

Barry and Dilys Moss held a cheese and wine evening, which raised almost £1,000.

Heighington councillor Gerald Lee said: "I am delighted with the village. One of the things which makes my job easier is when I ask for help, it is there."

About 40 volunteers got together after the disaster took place to come up with a plan to raise as much money as possible.

Coun Lee said: "As we went around the houses, most people had already donated money to the disaster fund, but were happy to give a little bit more."

The money was taken to a bank in Darlington, where it was paid into the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. It took almost an hour for the money to be counted by bank staff.

Community store gives day's takings

A NEW North-East business has donated a day's takings to the tsunami relief effort.

The Farringdon Community Shop in Farringdon, Sunderland, opened in November through Enterprising Futures, a business start-up scheme led by Sunderland Housing Group. The shop, in Allendale Road, decided to give Friday's takings to the appeal.

Brenda Rowell, chairwoman of the Farringdon Residents' Association, said she and the team of volunteers who work in the Farringdon Community Shop decided to do something to help after seeing the aftermath of the tsunami.

She said: "The Farringdon Community Shop was set up to benefit the community, and as soon as we saw what had happened, we wanted to do what we could for the communities devastated by the tsunami.

"The takings from Friday will be given to the tsunami relief effort."

The shop raised £235, and was joined by the Post Office, also in Allendale Road, which collected loose change from customers. The total collected is expected to be about £1,000

Shop breaks records with donations

PUBLIC donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Tsunami Appeal totalled an unprecedented £3,759 at a North-East Oxfam shop.

The figure was reached at the premises in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, County Dur-ham, by the close of the DEC's official appeal period on Friday. Such was the public response to the disaster that the shop also added ten recruits to its team of volunteers.

Shop manager Lynn Taylor said it was the best response to any appeal she had seen in her 16 years with the charity, which works across the world.

Mrs Taylor said the shop also has stocks of Oxfam's Make Poverty History wristbands, which are £1 each.

Make Poverty History, which was launched by Dawn French, with the backing of Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie, is the charity's official campaign for the year.

N-E in Action

NORTH-EAST: Hays Travel, which has 31 branches in the region, has joined the Travel Aid 50 appeal -a fund set up by the country's leading travel agents to raise money for disaster relief. This month, the company will donate 50p per passenger for every holiday booked to help rebuild areas devastated by the tsunami.

BARNARD CASTLE: The Methodist Junior Church is holding a tea and coffee and cake afternoon from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Saturday, in the Methodist church reception area.

DURHAM: A tea afternoon and bric-a-brac and book sale will be held at The Institute, Church Street, Durham, next Tuesday, from 1pm to 3pm. Entry is free.

DARLINGTON: The Magnet Ladies' Darts League raised £600 for the appeal at the Hopetown Club.

TO PUBLICISE YOUR EVENT, CALL (01325) 38131.

Aid collected for pets and livestock

AID is being sought to help animals affected by the tsunami.

A local group, Action for Animals, has been set up to raise funds for pets and livestock affected by the disaster.

House-to-house and pub collections are being planned in the south Durham area.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has sent emergency teams to the stricken areas and is appealing for funds. The IFAW is helping to vaccinate and relocate homeless livestock, pets and stray animals.

Anyone who can help is asked to call 0780 841 9729.

Fundraisers amazed at public's response

BUSINESSES have donated prizes for a raffle in aid of tsunami victims.

Officers at Richmondshire District Council, in North Yorkshire, said they were amazed by the response to their request for donations.

Donations included £100 from Dowse Removals, Easby Electronics and Central Stores. Prizes included a £100 gift voucher from Serendipity, in Leyburn, and donations included a DVD player, Marks and Spencer vouchers, tickets to a murder mystery dinner at Hartforth Hall, Georgian Theatre Royal tickets, golf at Catterick Golf Club and entry to the Forbidden Corner, in Coverdale.

Tickets are £1, at council offices, Richmond Pool, and Leyburn and Richmond tourist centres. The draw will take place on Sunday. To donate, call (01748) 829100.