HOMEMADE buns, a seven-ton truck and an overcrowded loft all helped bring in more money for relief efforts in Asia following the tsunami disaster.

Children at St Lawrence's Primary School in York raised more than £200 for the York Aid appeal - which has now raised a total of £55,977.45 - by selling cakes and buns to their peers.

The Year 6 pupils arranged the sale of homemade snacks after reading about the disaster.

They convinced parents to bake batches of buns and - with the help of their teacher, Helen Dumville - sold them to the rest of the school in the hall at break time. The sale raised £200.15 in two days.

School secretary Karen Thompson said: "The support from the parents has been fantastic. The buns were wonderful, and we had so many that we sold them for two days running.

"The best thing was that the driving force behind the whole idea was the children themselves."

The pupils also raised £244.50 for York children's charity Snappy with a series of concerts and plays over Christmas.

Meanwhile, nine volunteers dragged a seven-ton truck along two miles of road to raise money for the appeal.

Justin Brosenitz, landlord of the Melbourne Arms in Melbourne, joined eight pub regulars in the pull.

Together they managed to get the truck from Hagg Bridge to the pub in only 35 minutes, and raised £1,670 for the victims of the tsunami disaster.

Justin said: "It was a fantastic event, and I'm really chuffed at the amount of money we raised. I'd like to thank all the individuals and companies that sponsored us, and the people who came to cheer us along the way."

A family from Cawood, near Selby, took the lead in helping to raise £419 for the tsunami appeal. Retired Salvation Army officer Joan Kirby raided her loft for items for the bring-and-buy stall.

She put unwanted Christmas and birthday presents up for sale, along with household goods such as lamps, bookstands, curtains and two oak chairs.

Mrs Kirby's daughter, Karen, 42, and granddaughter Ellie, 11, also cleared out their home of surplus goods, including toys.

Mrs Kirby, who organised the coffee morning, bric-a-brac sale and raffle at the Old Boys' School, Cawood, said she was delighted with the money raised.

She said: "I would like to thank everyone who helped, including ladies from All Saints' Church, who worked extremely hard."

All proceeds from the York Aid appeal, which is being run by City of York Council and the Evening Press, will be donated to the official Disasters Emergency Committee fund.

Donations to the York Aid appeal can be made in person at the City Finance Office, in Library Square, York, between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Cash, cheques, postal orders, and debit card payments will be accepted.

Alternatively, you can send a cheque or postal order, made payable to City of York Council, to: City Finance Office, Library Square, York, YO1 7DU.

Please write "Disaster appeal" on the back. Do not send cash.

Any interest accrued from donations will also go to the appeal.

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, January 25, 2005