Ref. 75649-03WE'VE had Band Aid, Live Aid and Sport Aid.

But here comes bra aid, and it's all thanks to Swindon lingerie manufacturer Triumph International.

The company has donated 16,000 bras in a bid to give some extra support to the tsunami relief effort in Sri Lanka.

The unusual donation worth more than £100,000 has been welcomed by aid agencies struggling to get life back to normal.

Eight pallets were loaded up yesterday at Wroughton airfield, where the Wiltshire Mercy Appeal has been sending out tons of blankets, tents and other essentials.

David Lloyd, who is co-ordinating the operation, was delighted with the donation.

"We are in close contact with the Sri Lankan High Commiss-ion and charity Feed the Child-ren, and they both said yes they will take them," he said.

"We check everything we send is actually needed.

"We will send anything that that people can use.

"I'm very grateful to Triumph, as I am of any company which supports us.

"The response to the appeal has been fantastic, and I can't thank people enough for their support.

"Blankets and tents have made up most of the donations, and we are not really sending food and drink anymore as the infrastructure is now back in place."

Triumph, which has its headquarters in Groundwell Road, is also collecting cash donations from staff, and has promised to match the amount raised.

Sue Loder, spokewoman for Triumph, said: "We have sent an assortment of smaller bras as Asian ladies tend not to be as large as their European counterparts.

"It was initiated by our employees, who had heard that clothing was needed."

Goods which are handed in at Wroughton but are not needed in the areas affected by the disaster are given to other charities, such as Shelter, or sent to other parts of the world.

So far, 150 tonnes of aid have been sent from Wroughton, and 300 tonnes are scheduled to be flown out next week.

Tamash Lal