PEOPLE across the region have so far donated £7.3m to the official tsunami appeal.

The Disasters Emergency Committee has released projected estimates for money donated to the tsunami earthquake appeal by each television regions.

Across the country, the total stands at well over £100m.

People in the Tyne Tees region have donated £3m and those in Yorkshire £4.3m.

Charity officials described as "phenomenal" the response of people in the region to the disaster.

The outpouring of generosity has continued this week with clubs and organisations continuing to arrange fundraisers to raise cash for the affected areas.

Kim Tan, Oxfam's Campaigns Officer for the North-East, said: "The response has been phenomenal. The reality of this disaster has been brought home to people. Mums, dads, children, grand-parents, brothers and sisters.

"Everything has been destroyed for so many. The British public have been able to imagine what it must be like, how it would feel. And they've reached out to help."

He said the money had come from a huge range of sources - from individual donors as well as large organisations.

He also assured the public that all the money was going directly to aid the emergency effort. He said Oxfam teams were already on the ground supplying water to people in the city of Banda Aceh in Indonesia, which took the brunt of the giant waves.

Brendan Gormley, chief executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee, said: "Our member agencies now have teams on the ground in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Andaman Islands, the Maldives and Somalia working to deliver urgent food and medical supplies and to alleviate the immediate effects of the disaster.

"But it will take years for those affected areas to recover and so donations will now help people who have lost everything to rebuild their homes and livelihoods."

However, Mr Tan said that while the public's generosity would ensure help for millions hit by the catastrophe, it was important pressure was put on governments to make good on promises of cash.

He said: "This tragedy has touched one of our most basic human instincts to help people who are suffering.

"But we need to ensure that governments are held to account and that they come up with the money they have pledged."

Rural village to offer long-term relief plan

Residents of a rural village are planning to set up a group to help survivors of the Indian Ocean disaster, and they hope to keep it in operation for years to come.

They are to hold a meeting to launch the group next Monday, at 7pm, in the Wheatsheaf Inn, Staindrop, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Fred Blackwell, one of the organisers, said: "We will see what we can do in the short-term to assist families who survived the tsunami.

"As well as providing some immediate aid, we intend to make it a long-term exercise. There will still be a need to regenerate communities over there long after the TV cameras have gone."

Mr Blackwell, a former member of Teesdale District Council, said a Thai person who lives in the area is being invited to the meeting to give ideas about what might be done to help.

Anyone wishing to help or needing information about the group can contact Mr Blackwell on (01833) 660272, or call on Liz Cronin at Staindrop Post Office.

Y Care appeal begins

A building society branch is giving its support to victims of the Asian tsunami.

The Bedale branch of the Skipton Building Society, at 17 North End, is collecting funds for the Y Care International appeal to help provide relief in south-east Asia for people who have been left homeless and without food or water following the tidal waves.

Bedale branch manager Maree Johnson said: "We've all seen the shocking images of the devastation in southern Asia and I'm sure many will want to make a contribution to this appeal to try to help in any way they can.

"No donation is too small as every penny will help Y Care act quickly to prevent as many further lives being lost as possible."

Y Care International is the overseas relief and development agency of the YMCA and works with people across the developing world.

School to 'adopt' village

CHILDREN at a North-East school are to "adopt" a village devastated by the Asian tsunami.

Pupils at Teesside Prep and High School, Eaglescliffe, are planning a series of fundraising ventures.

Teacher Carol Lara is working closely with aid organisation Action Aid to identify a candidate community.

She said: "The children have already come up with a number of ideas, including a cake stall to be held on Friday, and have volunteered to fill cash bags with small change."

The senior school also hopes to "adopt" a school in the area, which they will support by sending collections of books and stationery to re-equip classrooms.