ACCRINGTON Stanley are joining the tsunami relief effort gathering pace across East Lancashire by holding a charity match to raise vital cash.

The club is looking for opponents to play on Saturday, January 29, in aid of the Tsunami Disaster Fund as there is a gap in the league programme.

Tickets for the game will be £5 and the money raised will be sent to the appeal fund.

Rob Heys, club press officer, said: "We have got a free weekend so we thought it was the perfect opportunity to do our bit to help victims of the disaster.

"We are still trying to firm up who will be playing, but we hope to make an announcement towards the end of the week."

The club is hoping fans will turn out in force for the match and help raise as much money as possible.

Elsewhere, donations of clothing, shoes and blankets are being collected at the management office at The Mall in Blackburn.

Any packages, boxes or bags taken to the management officer should be left open for the safety of staff.

The office is staffed between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, and the collection is expected to continue until the end of January.

Marketing manager Janice Chambers said: "We have also begun money collections from The Mall tenants and retailers so anyone wishing to donate money to the disaster who doesn't want to go into a bank can do it through us if they contact the management office."

For further information please contact Janice Chambers on 01254 54455.

People in Darwen are being asked to dig out any unwanted clothes and give them to the Sudellside Community Association in Darwen to raise money for the Tsunami Disaster Appeal.

Members of the Association have said that many people have offered clothes and other items which they intend to put up for sale with all proceeds being sent to the victims of the disaster.

The jumble sale will take place on Friday, January 14 at the Sudellside Community Centre from 6.30pm.

Anyone wanting to donate items should take them along to the centre before then during the day or ring the centre on 01254 760270.

Sue Frear, from the community centre, said: "The Association is hoping to get as much stuff as possible to sell. A lot of people have rung up to say they have lots of bits and pieces they are willing to donate so they are hoping to raise quite a bit of money to help those affected by the tsunami."

Money is also rolling in for the victims of the disaster as part of a collection organised by the Darwen Market traders.

Eileen Guy, from The Grotto, said: "Lots of people have been putting their money in the barrel we have in the market and it's getting heavier. We have also been told by Travelcare in Darwen that if anyone has foreign notes, not coins, they will exchange them commission free for us.

"One lady came to me with Australian dollars and asked if it would be all right to put them in the collection so we contacted the travel agent and they offered to help us out."

The large barrel is inside the market hall near the School Lane entrance.