THOUSANDS of Vale folk fell silent yesterday to pay tribute to the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.

They joined millions nationwide shocked by the Boxing Day disaster which has so far claimed more than 150,000 victims with many more missing.

Cash for aid has also been pouring in from all over the district and Vale folk have been busy organising fund-raising events to help the countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, India and Indonesia, devastated by the earthquake which measured 9.0 on the Richter Scale.

Evesham Rotary Club has donated £2,000, which has been put directly into a Rotary Club bank account in Sri Lanka for immediate aid. President John Luckhurst said it was an ideal way to help the appeal as the money was donated to Rotary Clubs on site in the disaster areas. More contributions can be made with a cheque donation to 'Rotary Club of Evesham' with 'South East Asia Disaster Appeal' written on the back addressed to Martin King, Treasurer of Evesham Rotary Club, Castons, Suite 1, 49 High Street, Evesham.

A New Year's Eve collection from partygoers at the Lygon Arms in Broadway raised £500. Janet and James Weisters from the Trough of Bowland in Lancashire held the impromptu collection. Mrs Weisters said: "Everyone was enjoying themselves and we were all glad to be alive - it was the least we could do."

The next day 1,500 people attending the North Cotswold Hunt meet outside the hotel donated a further £1,020 to the appeal.

Among those planning future events are the children and staff at St Richard's First School in Evesham who will be holding a bring and buy sale of books and toys, starting from 3.15pm on Friday. Headteacher John Reay said: "Our younger children find it difficult to comprehend what has happened but all ages have been touched by the pictures on the television."

Willersey villagers are organising a coffee morning on Saturday, at Willersey Village Hall from 10.30am to noon. On offer will be a raffle, games, cakes, and gifts, and anyone who would like to set up a stall should ring Jane Gooding 01386 853718.

Also on Saturday, staff at Evesham library in Oat Street are inviting people to a coffee morning on from 10am to 12 noon in exchange for a donation.

Mr Ali Adlkish of Avonside Motors in Abbey Lane, Evesham is donating 20 per cent of his MOT costs throughout January to the appeal.

l GENEROUS donations have been flooding into the Evesham and Pershore branches of Oxfam for the tsunami disaster appeal.

Last week a total of £4,220 was donated to the Evesham branch between Tuesday and Saturday, and a total of £3,500 was donated to the Pershore branch between Wednesday to Friday.

Jenny Baker, manager of the two branches said: "One man donated £1,000. I've never known a response like this especially over Christmas and the New Year. We've been quite busy with extra volunteers coming in to help out. Between Christmas and New Year it's usually quiet."

EVESHAM firefighters are holding a car wash this Saturday at the town's fire station from 10am to 4pm in aid of the tsunami aid appeal.

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