Barnard Castle: Charity workers in Barnard Castle have made an appeal for anyone who has a vehicle capable of transporting two to three tonnes of summer clothing and blankets. David Tate, from D&E Tate Florists, and Paul Dobson, a member of staff at Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, have already delivered a tonne of donations to the International Aid drop off centre in Preston, Lancashire. Anyone who can help with a vehicle is asked to call (01833) 638155.

Billingham: Customers at the Asda store, in Billingham, raised £5,636 for the Tsunami appeal after a collection was held in the store last week.

butterknowle: The combined silver bands of Aycliffe, Brancepeth and Middleton and Teesdale will be playing at a charity concert at 7.30pm on Saturday, January 22, at Butterknowle Village Hall, County Durham. Admission will be free, but donations will be gratefully received.

Darlington: A coffee morning, with stalls, is being held at St Herbert's Church Hall, off Yarm Road, Darlington, on Saturday, January 22, between 10am and noon.

MIDDLETON IN TEESDALE: A coffee morning held at the Masonic Hall, Middleton in Teesdale, on Saturday raised £1,820. The money was raised despite a power failure and bad weather. The organisers thanked everyone who supported the event. There will be another coffee morning in the Masonic Hall on Saturday, January 22.

Consett: St Cuthbert's Church at Benfieldside, near Consett, is holding a coffee morning on Saturday in the church hall between 10am and noon. There are cakes, stalls and a tombola available. Entry is £1.

STAINDROP: A collection held on Sunday at St Mary's Church, Staindrop raised £203.

Rugby club boost appeal

MONEY is continuing to pour into the York Aid Appeal, launched by the city council just over a week ago.

The total given to the cause yesterday stood at £39,691 - and more is continuing to come in.

The York Knights Rugby League Club has collected £2,981 and the Bengal Brasserie is planning to hold two fundraising evenings for the tsunami appeal.

The first will be on Tuesday at the York restaurant, in Goodramgate, and the second will be the following day at the Poppleton restaurant.

If anyone would like to help or attend, they are asked to contact the Bengal Brasserie on 01904 640066 or 788808.

Children's cash crusade

CARING youngsters at a village school are on a cash crusade to help victims of the Asian tsunami.

Children at Sedgefield Primary School, in County Durham, raised £81 for the appeal with a cake sale yesterday.

About a third of the school's 200 pupils took home-made treats which were sold by year five pupils and enjoyed at break time.

The idea came from children who said they wanted to help families devastated by the Boxing Day disaster.

Best friends Zoe Simpson, Evie Williamson and Kirsty and Courtney Smith have launched their own campaign. They raised £160 with a sponsored silence and are helping to organise a fund-raising event this weekend.

The family event will be held at Sedgefield Scout Hut, West End, on Saturday, from 10am to 3pm. Donations of cakes and tombola prizes can be left at The Black Lion pub, or call Andrea or John on (01740) 620962.

Radio presenters united in call to raise cash for appeal

PRESENTERS from the region's commercial radio stations came together yesterday for an unprecedented united appeal to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami.

Presenters from Alpha, Century FM, Galaxy, Magic, Metro, Sun FM and TFM stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the Angel of the North, in Gateshead, to launch the appeal.

On Monday, more than 240 stations across the country will put competition aside and suspend their usual schedules for a 12-hour broadcast to raise money for disaster relief under the banner UK Radio Aid. The event, the first time in commercial radio's 31-year history that the main stations have united for a single broadcast, is expected to reachan audience of more than 20 million listeners.

Participating stations will donate one day's profits to the appeal and will ask listeners to donate one hour of their time or money to the cause.