Businesses across Yorkshire rally round to help appeals.

(From Yorkshire Post)

James Reed THE devastation and loss of life in Asia have galvanised Yorkshire's business community. Leeds-based Asda revealed yesterday it had made "substantial" donations both to the British Red Cross and the Disasters Emergency Committee while US parent company Wal Mart has offered $2m in help.

The Wm Morrison chain of supermarkets, with its headquarters in Bradford, began collecting money at every till in its stores yesterday.

Bradford and Bingley has donated GBP10,000 towards the appeal and an account set up for customers to make their own contributions was expected to have hit GBP100,000 by last night.

The Asian Business Development Network, which has 500 member companies, has praised the way firms have responded to its emergency fund set up this week.

Staff at a Yorkshire fish and chip shop hope to raise up to GBP2,000 for the relief effort in South Asia by working for free next week.

Thompson's Traditional Fish and Chips, in Wetwang, near Driffield, will donate all the staff's wages for January 7 to charity.