CASH keeps rolling in from generous Evening News readers - with the total they have raised for the victims of the tsunami disaster spiralling to more than £16,000.

Last Saturday, the Evening News revealed how readers had clocked up £10,000 in donations to Unicef, the United Nation's Children's Fund.

And in just a week the figure has soared to £16,387 - ensuring more blankets, clean water and nutritious biscuits can be sent out to those in need.

Since the Boxing Day destruction that has sent shock-waves across the world, Worcestershire residents have been rallying to raise as much cash as they can for the victims of what has been one of the biggest natural disasters ever seen.

Linda McCaughey, regional fund-raising manager for Unicef in the Midlands, who has been totalling up the money sent by kind-hearted Evening News readers, said she has been "amazed" by the response.

"Thank you so much to the readers of the Evening News for your generous donations - we really could not do this without you," she said.

"We're amazed by the generosity of the people of Worcestershire."

She said the donations would make a big difference to the lives of women and children across South Asia, who are in desperate need of aid.

The destruction created by the tsunami is believed to have killed at least 150,000 - with Wichenford couple John and Annie Hofton being just two of those who may have lost their lives.

Hopes of finding the pair alive have faded since the hotel where they were staying at in Kao Lak, Thailand, was washed away.

Mrs Hofton, aged 57, ran the fashion shop Tizzies in Belle Vue Terrace, Malvern, while Mr Hofton, 62, was a sales manager in Solihull.

Mr Hofton's sons Edward and Thomas, and Mrs Hofton's son, Stacey, flew to Thailand to search for their missing parents, but are resigned to the likelihood that the couple's bodies will never be found.