Ref. 74439-1THE congregation of a Swindon church have raised around £5,000 to help victims of the tsunami.

Members of Christ Church, Old Town, have been operating a collection point at the church for money donations and items needed by survivors.

Yesterday the Evening Advertiser helped out by transporting the last load of donated items to the Sri Lanka relief operation at Wroughton.

Rosemary Earle, 54, who has been involved with the collection said: "I think the amount raised is brilliant. It's much more than we expected, especially considering that many people have given directly to the agencies.

"People have not just been generous, they have really thought about what would be appropriate to give. We have had medical supplies, soap, toothpaste and one person gave us six saris."

Margaret Williams, 73, another volunteer, said: "It's been amazing. People have been coming from as far away as Chippenham."

The collection has now finished but Mrs Earle urged people to carry on donating, by taking items to hangar D1 at Wroughton airfield.

Mrs Earle was keen to stress benefits of Gift Aid. She said: "People should remember that taxpayers can do Gift Aid. For every pound you give you can sign a declaration that you are a taxpayer and the charity can recoup another 28p from the Government.

"Taxpayers should make sure they do that. About £600 of our total was raised in that way."