A SHOP employee inspired her colleagues to raise almost £625 for victims of the Beslan school siege.

Shirlie Judson was shocked by images she saw on the front of newspapers in Bells Stores, in Esk Close, Guisborough, of the tragedy.

About 340 people, nearly half of them children, died during the three-day siege in southern Russia.

Ms Judson, who has worked at the Esk Close branch, now part of Sainsbury's, since February 2001, wanted to help the survivors so she put a bucket at the front of the shop with a poster asking customers to donate what they could.

With the help of manager Mark Watson, she also co-ordinated fundraising activities across four other stores in Guisborough and Great Ayton, raising a total of £624.62.

Mr Watson said: "The images on the front of the newspapers were right in our face and we felt very disheartened.

"When I came in one morning, Shirlie had put a bucket by the till.

"She's a very good-hearted person but she doesn't like a fuss and likes to keep on the back seat.

"We all got behind the idea and got the other stores in the area involved and we had a competition to see who could raise the most."

The money raised has been sent to a fundraising appeal launched by a national newspaper.