AN APPEAL for clothing and blankets for the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster has led to an astonishing response from a valleys village.

More than 800 black bags of donations were brought to the Zion Chapel in Llanhilleth, in just a few hours on Wednesday.

The Reverend Viv Nicholls said posters asking for help were put up around the village and in Abertillery on New Year's Eve.

She says she knew there would be a good response - but the generosity of the community has left her overwhelmed.

The church was open for just four hours on Wednesday morning and evening and is now full to brimming with donations.

Not a pew remains empty and services tomorrow will have to be held in a separate room.

The Red Cross is due to pick up the bags and money raised on Monday or Tuesday next week - with some of the clothing and blankets to be flown out to the disaster zones, where nearly 150,000 people have died.

Other goods will be sold in Red Cross charity shops, to raise cash for the tsunami survivors.

The Rev Nicholls said: "It would be an understatement to say I was surprised by how much we have received.

"I expected a good response because it has something that has touched everyone - but this was amazing."

Browns funeral services in Brynmawr and the Co-op Funeral Services in Abertillery also helped with the collections.

Rev Nicholls added that although financial donations are still being taken, they do not need any more donations of clothing.