City of York Council leader Steve Galloway said: "The imperative is that the spontaneous groundswell of public goodwill and action is maintained until not only the immediate crisis has passed, but also until the rebuilding programme has been completed."

Coun Dave Merrett, leader of the Labour group on City of York Council, said: "Every effort and every penny or pound that people can give at this time and in the period after in which reconstruction takes place must, and should be, given."

The leader of the council's Green group, Andy D'Agorne, said: "The speedy provision of safe water, food and basic shelter is evidently vital to avoid widespread further deaths."

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, gave his support to the appeal and urged everyone to donate whatever they can as soon as they can to provide life-saving services for the victims.

Adam Sinclair, proprietor of Mulberry Hall and chairman of York Chamber of Trade, urged other businesses in the city to give as much as they could as swiftly as possible.

Sophie McGill, communications director of York City, said: "We will support and help any initiatives where we can. It is a great initial step and I am sure it will very successful because it is something that has touched everybody."

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Looker, said: "As a city, York is only too aware of the suffering that flooding - albeit on a much smaller scale - can cause."

The chief executive of City of York Council, David Atkinson, said: "People all over the world have been moved by this terrible disaster. We want to help in any way we can."

Updated: 10:24 Tuesday, January 04, 2005