MEMBERS of St Joseph's RC Church, Aspley, have given £460 to help refugees suffering in the Darfur area of the Sudan.

The money was given during church collections. It is part of £19,084 raised in the Leeds diocese after an appeal by Cafod, the Catholic agency for overseas development.

Cafod supporters nationwide have raised more than £1m to help ease the crisis.

Cafod and its partners are leading a massive aid operation in Darfur to help more than 1m people who have been driven from their homes by government-backed Arab militia.

Cafod regional organiser Steve Chapman said: "The response to our appeal has been overwhelming.

"Cafod is extremely grateful for this rapid fundraising.

"The severity of the situation in Darfur cannot be overestimated.

"Across the region about one in four children are acutely malnourished - and that figure is set to rise in the coming months."

The money will help provide support for 500,000 people who have been forced into camps or are living near their burned-out villages.

Call the donation hotline on 0500 85 88 85 or visit the website www.cafod.org.uk