TSUNAMI AID: WILTSHIRE County Council is encouraging people to donate unwanted household items towards the tsunami relief effort.

Ten household recycling centres (HRCs) have been set up around the county with containers solely for donations.

Hills Waste staff will then transport the donated items to the Wiltshire Mercy Appeal operating from Wroughton airfield, where they will be dispatched to areas of need.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for environmental planning and waste said: "Our HRCs are popular and conveniently sited and it makes perfect sense for people to be able to drop off their donations when they call at the site."

People are being asked to donate pots and pans, cooking utensils, medical supplies, tinned food and tin openers, water purification tablets, sleeping bags and blankets."

Centres in Stanton St Quinton, Warminster, Melksham, Trowbridge and Honeyball, Calne are all taking part.

l Sarah-Jayne Newbury and Tony Durrant, of 10 Innox Road, Trowbridge, have been flooded with goods after turning their home into a makeshift collection centre.

Miss Newbury said: "We have had dozens of people coming here and the phone has been ringing from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. It is absolutely fantastic."

Mr Durrant is using his own van to take the donations to the airfield.

Trowbridge-based beds manufacturer Airsprung is also collecting goods on behalf of the appeal and will load up one of its 40ft delivery vehicles ready to go to the airfield on Sunday.

The firm is asking people to take all donations to its loading site at Canal Road, which can be accessed via the Airofreem entrance, between 8am and 12 noon tomorrow.

The Mercy Appeal has said no more donations of clothes, water or toys are needed as huge amounts have already been collected.

Contact Sarah-Jayne Newbury and Tony Durrant on (01225) 765038.