TRUSTEES of a North-East charitable foundation have voted to break with tradition and donate £500,000 to help victims.

The Northern Rock Foundation, which normally only funds projects in the North-East and Cumbria, will make one of the biggest donations in its history after board members were moved by the scale of the disaster.

The trustees said they were taking exceptional action in making their first award to a cause outside the UK. Over the next month, the trustees will consider how to allocate the funding to ensure the maximum benefit to victims.

The group was established in 1997 following the conversion of the Newcastle-based building society into a limited company.

The bank donates five per cent of its pre-tax profits to the foundation, which is an independent charity.

Two years ago, the foundation decided to award grants only to organisations in the region and said the award will not affect grants to local projects, which are expected to be £18.7m in the coming year.

Foundation chairman Leo Finn said: "The unique events in Asia required a unique response from the Northern Rock Foundation.

"The trustees were greatly moved by the experience of those affected and by the people and organisations in our region that have responded so generously."