ABOUT 175 people enjoyed an evening of Sri Lankan entertainment to raise money for the Asian tsunami appeal.

The evening was held at the Middleton St George Community Centre on Saturday and raised £2,295.

The money will be sent to the Sri Lankan High Commission disaster relief fund.

It will help to rebuild the lives of those affected by the Boxing Day disaster.

The event was organised by Daphne and Soma Weerasinghe, who are Sri Lankan, and their friends Ian and Sheila Wilkinson and Joan Wright.

Everyone who took part gave their time for free, including singers, dancers, sound engineers and caterers.

The event was attended by special guests from the Kiribati Islands, in the Pacific Ocean.

Mrs Weerasinghe said: "It was a wonderful event and the parish said it was one of the largest and happiest events they have ever seen in Darlington."

She has decided to repay the village by hosting a dinner, where guests will enjoy Sri Lankan cuisine.

Any profits from the event, to be held in the autumn, will go towards village.

Customers at Ramesh's newsagent's in Whessoe Road, Darlington, have donated £675 to help victims of the disaster.

Further donations can be sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee, Tsunami Appeal, PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA