DONATIONS to the York Aid appeal have topped the £30,000 mark as people across the city continue their fundraising efforts with gusto.

Red Cross collectors, assisted by a number of local councillors, were due to be out in force in York city centre and at Tesco stores today, urging shoppers to give generously.

The Diocese of York announced yesterday that it is donating £100,000 to assist the aid efforts of Anglican churches within the affected countries.

Businesses, groups and individuals have been arranging events and making collections to boost local and national appeal funds, as Yorkshire's contribution to the national Disasters Emergency Committee appeal reaches £5.6 million.

B&Q, at Clifton Moor, york, has raised more than £2,000 for the Red Cross appeal for the tsunami victims, thanks to in-store collections and many staff signing-up to an appeal to donate an hour's wages.

A huge raffle under the banner of Asia Needs You, which is taking place in York's bars and restaurants, and was launched yesterday, is continuing to grow and organisers have decided to move the draw from January 16 to 30.

Organiser Matt Aconely, of Kennedy's, said F1 Racing Centre, in Monks Cross, had donated a racing day prize for the venue that raised the most cash.

Akash Tandoori, in North Street, is donating its takings on Tuesday, between 6pm and midnight, to the York Aid appeal. Phone 01904 633550 to make a booking.

Norman Mill, a cleaner for First York bus company, and his wife, Claire, donned musketeer outfits to make a collection for the tsunami appeal on First bus services today, while Ace Valet did a fundraising car wash at Breck Saab, Nether Poppleton, and has promised to match the amount raised.

York Rugby Union FC are holding a dad's match tomorrow, with 50 per cent of the proceeds going towards the tsunami appeal. The rest will go to the Josh Abbott Memorial Fund.

Forty fathers will be taking part in the game, some of whom have not played for more than ten years. Kick-off is at 12.30pm.

Both the Trading Standards Institute and the Charity Commission have warned people to be aware of scams and bogus collectors taking advantage of the public's generosity following the disaster.

They said people should only give to registered charities and report anything suspicious to their local trading standards offices or the police immediately.

Updated: 10:57 Saturday, January 08, 2005