PEOPLE in Bolton are still working hard to help the victims of the tidal wave disaster in South-east Asia.

Across the town fund-raising events are being held and people are collecting money in tins.

Pensioner Alf Hales, aged 83, of Booth Road, Little Lever, placed 40 boxes across Bolton and Racliffe, raising £4,068.

He said one man went to his home on New Year's Eve and handed him £100 for the Red Cross collection. A tin placed in the Royal Bank of Scotland, Radcliffe, raised £1,000 - with one person putting a bundle of 10 £50 notes in the box.

But there was some sadness as one person stole a box from the Spar store in Farnworth. Mr Hales, who has raised £25,000 for charity over the past eight years, said: "Just how low will people go to satisfy their needs?"

In Bolton town centre, a group of acoustic musicians and songwriters raised almost £3,000 for the fund.

The cash was donated by regulars of the Man and Scythe pub in Churchgate where the musicians take turns performing on Saturday evenings.

Landlord John Jewitt would normally have closed the pub on New Year's Day, which was on a Saturday, but decided to open up and charge a £5 per head entrance fee donated to the disaster fund.

The effort was helped by Westhoughton-based charity fund raiser Annie Lovett, who organised raffles and collections.

It was also boosted on Saturday evening by the surprise appearance of Bolton actor Ian Aspinall, who plays Mubbs in Holby City. He drew the tickets in another raffle. Ian was a regular performer on Bolton's acoustic music circuit before landing his role in the hospital drama and moving to London.

Michael Ross, a pub entertainer, has also been working hard with his "Song for Tsunami" karaoke campaign, which is due to finish this weekend.

At the weekly karaoke evenings held at the Sharman Arms, the Belle View and the New Inn, all on Halliwell Road, and in the Bowling Green Hotel, Blackburn Road, Mr Ross has been stepping up to give the customers a free rendition of "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, before passing around a collection pot.

He has raised more than £200 so far and hopes to hit the £300 mark this weekend.

He said: "I just want to show that people in Bolton do care and that we are still contributing to the fund."

The generosity has also spread into the business community.

Barron Group Caravans, at Chorley, has donated 27 tents worth £8,000 to the victims of the disaster. The retailer made the donation through the Bolton South branch of the Salvation Army, which will officially say thank you for the gift at a presentation on Thursday, February 3.