THOUSANDS of people in Lancashire's 72 mosques are uniting to raise money to help south east Asia's earthquake victims.

Lancashire Council of Mosques chairman Ibrahim Master has called a special meeting for tonight to discuss the best ways of making money, and how it should be spent.

The meeting, at Jans Conference Centre, Audley, Blackburn, at 6pm, comes as scores of people from all religions across East Lancashire are raising thousands of pounds for the relief effort.

An invitation, sent to every mosque in the county, reads: "The deeply distressing and painfully horrendous situation has overwhelmed and paralysed that region, where many Muslims also reside.

"Whilst such natural disasters serve to remind mankind of its own feebleness and limited capacity, and the might of our all powerful creator, they should also prompt us to extend our humanitarian support to those affected, whose plight words simply cannot capture. May our creator accept our humble efforts in extending humanitarian relief to the aggrieved and distraught."

Mr Master said: "The meeting will be to discuss how we can go about raising funds, and how best to use these funds. Special prayers are said all of the time for the peace of mind and heart of all the victims' families."

Coun Michael Taylor, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Calderdale Council, today spoke of his lucky escape from the tsunami.

Coun Taylor, of Owlers Walk, Todmorden, was sunning himself in Kovalam Beach, on India's west coast, when the catastrophy unfolded, devastating the country's east coast.

The 54-year-old went down to the beach with his partner Ruth Coleman, 57, at about 1pm on Boxing Day, the day the wave struck.

He said: "We were blissfully unaware of what was happening. The water was coming far further than normal and looked pretty horrendous.

"We went back to the hotel and it was all on the news and we began to realise what happened, and how lucky we were."

Just up the coast from where they were staying, 97 fishermen were swept away in the massive tidal wave.

Coun Taylor, who has visited Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and The Maldives, in the last two years said his family were frantically texting him to find out if he was alright.

A Hyndburn homeless charity is extending its support overseas to help out with the Asian tsunami relief effort.

Maundy Relief, which has Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh as patron, has sent off £100 -- half from the charity, and half from the Abbey Street organisation's manager, Dorothy MacGregor.

The charity is now getting together as many clothes as possible, to distribute to the needy in the disaster-struck region.

Maundy Relief, based at Maundy Grange, specialises in helping Hyndburn's homeless, and getting them back on their feet.

Helen Bishop, deputy manager, said: "It's all we are talking about at the moment and it makes people realise just how lucky they really are."

Harry Dean, spokesman for the Rotary Club of Great Harwood and Rishton, said Rotary groups across the country specialised in helping such causes, supplying equipment including water purification devices.

The local branch will be planning future relief at its first meeting of the new year, to be held on Thursday.