PUPILS at a Darlington school interrupted their half-term holiday to help raise money for victims of the recent Asian earthquake.

Sixth-form students from Polam Hall School packed bags in Sainsbury's supermarket in the town to raise money for the disaster relief operation.

They worked at the checkouts from 9am to 4pm, and each customer was asked to make a donation.

Students also stood in the foyer, on Victoria Road, collecting spare change.

Marie Steward, charity organiser at Sainsbury's, praised the girls' efforts.

She said: "It was their own suggestion that they do this, and they did all their own advertising and publicity. It's also in the middle of their half-term at the moment, so they have given up their free time. They are also stood in the freezing foyer, and are very, very dedicated to what they're doing. Although we are fully-booked for events in store, we are quite happy to accommodate them."