STAFF and students at a Derwentside school have donated nearly £1,100 to victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.

Schools in County Durham were awarded £1,000 for helping Durham County Council achieve 'excellent' status for their efforts last year.

But rather than organise a party, the school decided the money would be better spent providing relief aid to the hundreds of thousands of people in need of help.

Year nine pupils at Tanfield School Specialist College of Science and Engineering added to the sum by baking cakes, biscuits and flapjack and selling the cakes to teachers and students. They raised £89.

Headteacher Archie Howat said: "They wanted to support youngsters and the people in that area of the world.

"It says something about the ethos and nature of the school that they think about the needs of others before themselves."

* Durham's indoor Soccarena is offering free pitch hire on Sunday, in return for a minimum donation of £1 per head to the tsunami appeal. To make a booking, call 0191-370 6640.