WE'RE a generous lot up North.

That's one of the findings of a survey into donations to emergency charities.

This year has been a year of such demands, with the South-East Asian tsunami followed by the earthquake in Pakistan, as well as continuing problems with poverty in Africa.

But the Red Cross survey into the public's attitude and response to disaster appeals in 2005 revealed high levels of generosity and understanding of challenges faced by aid agencies.

The poll found that nearly eight out of 10 people in the North had given to an emergency charity appeal this year.

Of those from the North who said they had given to an appeal 72% said they were likely to give again.

The statistics also revealed that 2.2m (5%) of the British public gave to every major disaster or emergency charity appeal this year.