HUDDERSFIELD businesses have rallied round to raise cash for victims of Asia's tsunami crisis.

Nineteen town centre businesses have donated goods or vouchers for an auction at Bar Code on King Street tonight and tomorrow night.

The donated items include makeovers, jewellery, hi-fi systems, clothing, games consoles and health club membership.

Brendan Halford, manager of Bar Code, has been working for four days to collect the items.

He said: "The mayor has been to see what we have collected and, like me, she was impressed by the response of the businesses.

"It has been overwhelming."

On both the charity auction nights, customers will be charged a £1 entry fee.

Staff will be in fancy dress and some will even be auctioned off as `slaves for the day'.

Some of the male employees will be having their legs waxed in exchange for donations.

Mr Halford will even be donating his wages for tonight and tomorrow.

All the proceeds will go to aid agencies helping people devastated by the tsunami, which struck on Boxing Day.

It has killed 150,000 people in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives and India, and other Indian Ocean fringe countries.

It has also left millions homeless.

Mr Halford said: "People can help just by coming down, paying their pound and maybe bidding on something. "

SUPERMARKET night manager Richard Berkeley flies to Sri Lanka next week to help with relief work after the tsunami disaster.

Richard, 26, who works at Asda's Bradford Road store in Huddersfield, aims to spend two weeks in the capital, Colombo, taking part in aid work.

He is part of a 45-strong party travelling to South Asia with volunteer group and charity I - To - I.

"I wanted to go there as soon as I saw the harrowing television pictures," said Richard, who lives in Warrenfield Court, near the store.

"This is something I've always wanted to do. A friend told about the group, I checked it out on the internet and as soon as the news came about the devastation, I was determined to help out."

During his two weeks in Sri Lanka, Richard is expecting to be building temporary shelters and providing food and healthcare for children, as well as helping to distribute tents, clean drinking water and food.

Richard has worked at the Bradford Road store for about nine months.

The Leeds-based volunteer group I - To - I provides help worldwide in times of need.

It has continuing projects helping children in Nepal and animals in Africa.