WAKE OF THE TSUNAMI: SWINDON Rotary Clubs joined forces over the weekend to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami. All seven local rotary clubs held a collection at Asda Walmart on the Orbital Retail Park and raised a total of £2,072.

International appeal co-ordinator Rotarian Peter Hayman said: "All Rotarians have a common aim in helping those in need especially at such a difficult time.

"Local Rotary club members have worked tirelessly to help this urgent appeal and we must thank not only Asda for assisting in the collection but also the shoppers who have been very generous.

"One young lad put in his pocket money and he can be assured that all the money will go directly to helping this worthwhile cause."

The rotary clubs involved included Swindon, North Wilts and Wootten Bassett.

Many local clubs have already responded by sending Aquabox water purifiers to prevent the outbreak of epidemics among survivors and Shelterbox crates, each containing a tent that can accommodate up to 10 people, household tools, cooking utensils, and lighting and heating equipment.

John Poolman, president of Old Town Rotary Club, said: "Local people here in Swindon can make a huge difference to those in desperate need by helping pay for this equipment.

"Rotary can deliver aid exactly where it is needed and can respond quickly to urgent requests such as this terrible event."

To make a donation to the Rotary Clubs' collection call 01793 845 846.

WOOTTON Bassett residents raised £7,000 for the appeal.

A charity auction attracted 300 people who dug deep as 269 lots were sold off at Wootton Bassett Memorial Hall.

The lots ranged from a garden gnome which went for £12 to a food and drink hamper which raised £350 after the original winner paid their bid but gave back the hamper to be auctioned again.

Chris Wannell, who organised the auction along with Liz Eastgate, said: "It was Wootton Bassett's response to the disaster, and it was Wootton Bassett at its best."

Other lots, collected by Chris and Liz in the week before the auction, included a trip round the House of Commons with James Grey MP, which raised £120, and a four-and-a-half litre bottle of scotch which brought in £90.

CHILDREN living in Blunsdon tidied up gardens and sold goodies to raise cash for the appeal.

Claire Whyte, 27, who lives in the village said her children Liam, 11, Tayla, eight, and Yasmin, seven, along with three friends collected £127.

The money was handed over to St Andrew's School in Blunsdon who will send a cheque to the appeal.

"I think it's a fabulous total, I never expected them to raise so much," said Mrs Whyte.

THE Swindon Folk Singers Club has donated £140 to the tsunami appeal.

The club donated all the proceeds from its open stage night at the Gorse Hill Club plus donations from members, to the appeal through Oxfam.

How to help

TO donate call the Disasters Emergency Committee on 0870 60 60 900 or visit website www.dec.org.uk

Or you can send cheques, payable to The Sri Lankan High Commission Disaster Fund, to the Evening Advertiser at 100 Victoria Road, Swindon SN1 3BE and we will forward them to the Sri Lankan High Commission, which can be called 0207 2621841. Mark the envelope 'Tsunami Appeal'. To donate supplies take them along to hangar D1 at Wroughton Airfield and to volunteer phone Manolito Chandos on 07708 415362.

To volunteer at an Oxfam shop to help sort the donations call the Regent Street shop in Swindon on 01793 511138 or the Boroughfield Precinct shop in Wootton Bassettt on 01793 850947.

If you are organising an event tell us on 01793 501806.