TWO children who helped nurse victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster led the region in remembrance yesterday.

Ten-year-old Cherise Watson and her cousin, Liam Fleming, 14, from Darlington, lit candles to mark the start of three minutes' silence.

The children were staying in the Thai resort of Patong with their grandparents, Pam and Kenny Metcalfe, when the disaster struck.

The UK and Europe stood silent in a tribute for three minutes at noon, as Prime Minister Tony Blair promised the Government would contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the relief effort.

People in town centres, shops and offices across the European Union paused for three minutes to pay their respects to the 150,000 people who died in the disaster.

Broadcasters interrupted their programmes, stock markets ceased trading and in some cities even public transport stopped for three minutes.

Mr Blair, who observed the silence in private at Downing Street, said it was time for action not words and pledged even greater support for the international aid effort.

He said the Government's contribution would more than match the generosity of the British public, who have so far raised £76m.

* A father is selling his house and car to fund medical treatment for his son. John Metcalfe, 22, from West Derby, in Liverpool, needs emergency surgery to save his leg. His father, David, 45, has flown to Thailand to be at his bedside in a hospital near Phuket.

* Celebrity gardener Charlie Dimmock is still waiting for news of her mother and stepfather. Sue Kennedy, 59, and her husband, Rob, 60, were in the resort of Phuket when the waves struck. They have not made contact since Boxing Day.

* Police guards were posted at refugee camps in Indonesia yesterday to protect orphaned children from being kidnapped by trafficking gangs. Two attempts to snatch youngsters were confirmed by United Nations charity workers in Aceh province.