A STUDENT nurse from Chipping Sodbury has single handedly collected more than £500 for the South-East Asia disaster fund.

Alex Dixon, 24, was so moved by the images of devastation caused by the tsunami that hit the coasts of Thailand, The Maldives and Sri Lanka on Boxing Day, that she was compelled to do something to help.

She told the Gazette: "I originally decided to collect bottles of water as that is one of the things most needed but when I got in touch with the Red Cross they said it would be easier if I sent money. This way they do not need to pay the costs of transporting things over to the countries and they are able to use the money to buy what is needed from the countries themselves."

Miss Dixon, who is in her first year at Southampton University, spent a whole day asking businesses in Chipping Sodbury to make a donation to the funds.

She said: "Everybody I asked had the intention of giving anyway through other channels but I just made it a bit easier for them to do so. People were reaching into their tills and handing me money and in some shops even customers got out their wallets to make a donation.

"I would like to thank everybody who has given to the fund and for their generosity."

Those who wish to donate money to help relief efforts in Asia can do so through the British Red Cross Floods Appeal. Phone 0870 6060900 or log on to www.redcross.org.uk

UK mobile phone customers can also donate £1.50 to the appeal by texting the word "donate" to 83321.