MEMBERS of York Lions Club are hoping residents will help to make a roaring success of their annual appeal.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun David Horton, joined club members as they kick-started the campaign with a collection day in Parliament Street.

The fundraising drive will support a pensioners' Christmas lunch, to be held at St Peter's School, on December 17, and a children's Christmas party at the Yearsley Bridge Centre on December 14, as well as a range of other projects.

The Lions will visit areas across York, including Woodthorpe, Copmanthorpe, Strensall, Haxby and Poppleton, over the coming weeks in a bid to boost their total. They will leaflet each area during the week and collect on Sundays.

Peter Jesse, the club's public relations officer, said: "We really appreciated everybody's generosity on Saturday and we will be very grateful for whatever people can contribute to our good causes during our other collections."

Updated: 12:08 Monday, October 28, 2002