West gives to tsunami victims

A mother and daughter at a refugee camp in Indonesia

Donations to the Asian tsunami disaster appeal from the West of England have topped £10m, says Oxfam.

Public contributions to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DeC) are expected to pass £100m, the umbrella group of charities has predicted.

Kathleen Christie, from Oxfam, said: "People have been extremely generous and this is a good total.

"We are so grateful to everyone who has donated and worked to raise money across the region."

Up to $6bn (£3.19bn) in aid relief has been pledged overall to help five million people affected by the tsunami.

The British Government says it will give around £50m, and will match the amount raised in private donations.

Asked about the overall DeC's total, Ms Christie said: "We are in unprecedented and uncharted territory.

"The DeC has run around 50 of these appeals in the past, and this is by far the biggest."