OUTDATED francs, marks, pesetas and lira were among the coins collected by the sackful in a collection among generous Bishopthorpe residents.

Villagers rooted out their old change to raise money for refurbishment to Bishopthorpe Playgroup's building.

Caroline Houghton, on the playgroup's fundraising committee, said house-to-house collections had been carried out as well as a library-based collection.

The playgroup encouraged people to part with coins which will soon go out of circulation in countries which have introduced the Euro.

Sixty kilogrammes of change were collected and it is to be forwarded on to a company who can exchange the coins for the pounds essential for playgroup building repairs.

Caroline said 2002 was the 40th anniversary year of the playgroup and it was hoped to raise enough money through the year for a substantial building project.

She said: "We were given coins from all over the world, but mostly European. We got some really old ones, and some marks dating from the wartime years. People keep huge amounts from one holiday to the next and everyone's taken the opportunity to have a clear-out.

"We would like to say a big thank you to everybody who has donated."

Anyone else that would like to contribute can still leave their coins at Bishopthorpe Library, or can telephone 01904 702414.

Updated: 09:20 Wednesday, January 16, 2002