THE Northern Echo is to stage a "Ring In For Hannah Day" next week to help a little girl face up to the future.

Donations continued to flood in yesterday following our story about Hannah Maxwell-Jones who has been left disfigured by a severe birthmark.

Hannah, who is nearly two, can have corrective surgery in America if her parents Keith and Allison, of Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, can raise £20,000.

Next Thursday has been designated as a special day at The Northern Echo's headquarters in Darlington to help make sure the appeal maintains its momentum.

Hannah's family have struggled to cope with the number of telephone calls from people offering help.

So we will set up a help desk, with staff waiting to take calls from anyone wishing to make donations.

We are also making special arrangements on our Internet site to make it possible for well-wishers to make e-mail donations.

And our commercial staff will also be helping to generate appeal funds by organising a special advertising feature in aid of Hannah.

Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said: "This is a story which has touched hearts all over the region and we want to play our part in helping Hannah to live as normal a life as possible."

Hannah's mum, Allison, said last night that the family were "bowled over".

She said: "We had no idea that it would escalate to this level. The community spirit is so strong - I just don't know what to say to people."

Allison's husband, Keith, added: "We were really just anticipating that we would get raffle prizes. We never thought that people would really give money."

Hannah's treatment will continue to be managed at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London, but she will need five operations by a world expert in birthmarks in Arkansas.

Here's how to help:

l Thursday December 21 is "Ring In For Hannah Day" at The Northern Echo. Call any of the following to make credit card donations or to arrange to send cheques: Jane O'Byrne (01325) 505283, Claire Reeder (01325) 505286, Donna Wilson (01325) 505277, or Hylton Marrs (01325) 505282. In the meantime, her parents can be contacted on (01642) 517674.

l From Monday, you can e-mail your pledges to:

hannah Hannah Appeal, c/o Joanne Huggins, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 1NF..