ONE of the main fears expressed in the wake of the vote to the leave the European Union was that Britain was turning its back on the rest of the world.

With the effects of austerity still biting hard, and hard-working families struggling to stay out of poverty, would Brexit mean that Britain sought to pursue its own ends at the expense of others? Would the hardships being experienced in other countries be ignored as a sense of isolationism took hold?

That question has been answered this week, with the British public proving they are not about to bring down the barriers and shut themselves away from global affairs.

The earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 1,500 people in Indonesia at the end of last week resulted in some truly shocking images of devastation and despair.

With more than 200,000 survivors in chronic need of help, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched an appeal for financial assistance on Thursday. By yesterday afternoon, British donors had come up with more than £6m.

The British Government has pledged to match the first £2m donated pound for pound, and will send an additional £5m to the region as well as a plane-load of aid.

In these Brexit-dominated times, it is heart-warming to see that we are not about to become a country that ignores others in times of need. We have our own problems to solve, but that does not mean we have to turn our back when tragedy strikes elsewhere.