PUPILS at a Valleys primary school put their hands into their own pockets to make a hearty donation to the Asian Tsunami Appeal.

The 400 or so pupils at Libanus primary school in Blackwood were each asked to bring 50p into school. The coins were then placed on a cardboard heart shape and mounted on a block.

Most pupils brought in several 50p pieces and more cardboard hearts had to be made to accommodate the extra coins.

The appeal is expected to raise in the region of £300 to £500. This will be added to the £200 already collected in donations at school gates in the last few days.

Headteacher Michelle Oddy said: "We wanted to do something really quick so money could be sent out to the needy straight away and it has been a real community effort in the school.

"We wanted to make the children feel the money was coming from them so we asked them to bring in their Christmas money or pocket money.

"One child even brought in his piggy bank and emptied it into a bucket."

She added: "I don't think the children can help but understand and empathise with the tragedy because the news on television is so graphic.

"The pupils are leaving messages with their 50p donations like 'Thinking of you' and 'This is for new shoes' and it is very touching."

* More than £2,000 was collected by generous residents in the Islwyn area.

The Islwyn Community Credit Union on Blackwood High Street has raised £2,250 since December 28 from customer donations.

Dennis English, development worker at the credit union, said: "Everybody involved in the credit union has been touched by the generosity.

"Just like elsewhere the donations we have received have been from across the whole spectrum, from youngsters giving their pocket money to hard-pressed pensioners."