A FORMER Huddersfield teaching assistant, who now lives in Sri Lanka, is appealing for help to get medicine to victims of the Asian tsunami.

Jackie Burton, who used to work at Holmfirth Junior, Infant and Nursery School, in Cartworth Road, moved to the disaster-hit country with her three teenage sons and husband Alan just four weeks ago.

She has already paid for medical supplies out of her own pocket for more than 50 local people, who have lost everything and are in dire health, but she has now asked her old school to help out.

Heather Hunt, a teaching assistant at the school, said: "Jackie got in touch via email and told us about the terrible situation in Sri Lanka.

"Thank God Jackie and her family were unharmed by the tsunami, but there is such devastation out there we decided we had to help.

"The best idea we had was to have a '60s and '70s night.

"The money we raise will go directly to Jackie who can make sure it makes a difference immediately."

The fancy dress party night - for which people are encouraged to recreate the fashion statements and catastrophes of the 1960s and 1970s - will be held at Holmfirth Civic Hall on Friday, January 28.

Mrs Hunt said the school was planning more fundraising for the victims of the devastating underwater earthquake which struck on Boxing Day and has already claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people.

"The children know exactly what is going on and they really want to help," she said.

"Hopefully we are going to contact Jackie's local school in Sri Lanka and make some links between our children and the ones there.

"We just want to do our bit and because we can't actually be there we thought this was the best way."

The party night, which will include a disco and is open to adults only, starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets, priced at £10, are available from Holmfirth Tourist Information Centre on 01484 222444.

STAFF at Skelmanthorpe Health Centre will hold a bring-and-buy sale to raise cash for victims of the Asian tsunami.

It will be held at the health centre on Saturday from 10am to noon. All proceeds will go the Huddersfield Examiner/ Unicef Children of Asia Appeal.

A CHARITY concert is being organised at Bradley and Colnebridge Working Men's Club to raise cash for the tsunami appeal.

The event gets under way at noon on Sunday.

Entertainment will be provided by comedian Mick Martin, vocal trio Davilian, singer Alec Christie and members of the West Yorkshire Ukulele Society playing George Formby favourites.

The concert has been organised by Ray Townley and Mr Martin, who hope to raise at least £1,000. It will include a raffle of unwanted Christmas presents, inc- luding wine and champagne, electrical goods and a DVD player.

Mr Townley said: "We decided to do something to help after watching the coverage of the disaster on TV. We were absolutely stunned by what was happening."

Mr Townley said the concert was open to everyone. There will be no charge, but people will be asked to make a donation to the appeal.

A COFFEE morning held by members of St Cuthbert's Church at Birkby and other local people raised more than £1,100 for the tsunami appeal.

The event, held at the church hall, included refreshments and stalls selling cakes, books and sweets.

MEMBERS of Huddersfield Rotary Club have backed the tsunami disaster appeal.

They have contributed £750 to pay for water purification equipment to be sent to the stricken South Asia region.

The three Aqua Boxes will enable relief teams to supply fresh water to hundreds of people affected by the devastating earthquake and tidal wave.

Each kit can provide 33,000 litres of fresh water.

* Please make your cheque payable to Unicef Asia Earthquake Children's Emergency Appeal.

* Complete the coupon here. By completing this we may be able to claim Gift Aid on your donation - making your money go further.

* Send your cheque and the coupon on this page to Huddersfield Examiner/Unicef Children of Asia Appeal, Freepost, Billericay CM12 0BR.