A NORTH Yorkshire church has joined forces with the town council to put on a concert for the tsunami disaster fund.

John Francis Moss, who works part-time at St James' Church, in Boroughbridge, and town mayor Freda Cooper gave themselves a week to organise the event at the church and try to encourage a large audience to come.

"No one can fail to be touched by the humanitarian disaster we have seen unfold day-by-day on our television screens," said Mr Moss.

"While the relief effort will go on for months, if not years, the sooner money can be raised, the quicker it will be used to help people in real need. We would normally charge something like £5 per seat, but we are not charging a set admission. I would rather that the church was full and people just gave what they can."

Mr Moss added: "The response has been overwhelming. Everyone I have asked has been very enthusiastic - one group even offered to perform the whole concert. It will be a real mix of very talented people and a wonderful evening of entertainment."

The concert will take place at 7.30pm, on Saturday.

The next day, prayers will be said for all victims of the tsunami at a joint service to be held at 10.30am at Boroughbridge Methodist Church.