YORK people have raised nearly £40,000 for those devastated by the Asian tsunami disaster.

The York Aid appeal stands at £39,691 - with donations still coming in to help the hundreds of thousands of people trying to rebuild their lives in the wake of the Boxing Day tragedy.

Pupils at Joseph Rowntree School have already raised more than £1,400 by participating in a non-uniform day and it is hoped more money will be collected from a bring-and-buy sale.

Eleven-year-old Sophie Stockton, of Navigation Road, York, and her friend Lara Wilson, also 11, raised £18.83 for York Aid by baking and selling cakes and scones, and their Christmas sweets, to neighbours.

"It is so sad seeing everything on the telly, so we tried to raise some money so they can build their homes up again," said Sophie, who will be taking part in a non-uniform day at Fishergate Primary School on Friday.

Generous shoppers at a Ryedale supermarket have given much more than their loose change to help raise a significant amount for the Asian tsunami disaster appeal.

Customers at Safeway, Castlegate, Malton, have given more than £5,675 since collection buckets were put out at the end of tills on New Year's Eve.

A Safeway spokesman said: "It's a lot. We're not surprised because there's been such a massive public interest in the appeal across the whole country. People have been putting in the change from their shopping, but also notes and cheques. We've found a lot of similar sized stores have raised similar amounts."

Regulars at Acomb Working Men's Club, in York, have raised £1,150 for the tsunami appeal after donating bingo winnings, and auctioning raffle prizes. The club plans to hold fundraising events for the rest of this month.

York rock band Stealer raised £400 following a packed gig at The Melbourne pub, in Cemetery Road, where the group performed AC/DC's classic live album If You Want Blood You Got It.

WS Electrical York Ltd, of Sycamore House, Poppleton Business Park, has donated £1,000 to York Aid, while staff at Holgate Hill Hotel, in Holgate Road, York, will be holding a car boot sale on January 23, from 10am to 1pm.

Meanwhile, a collection at St Joseph's Church, in Pickering, raised £1,657.50 for the tsunami appeal, while a coffee morning at Selby Methodist Church raised £456.78.

York & County Press employees are doing their bit for the York Aid appeal, with the company's Staff Liaison Council aiming to raise £5,000 by the end of April.

A bring-and-buy sale, and a fundraising disco and karaoke night have already been organised, and staff are being asked to voluntarily donate an hour's pay.

Updated: 11:40 Wednesday, January 12, 2005