A TRUCK full of aid was today due to leave for tsuanmi-hit Sri Lanka from an East Lancashire charity after an 'overwhelming' response from the public.

And International Aid, run by East Lancashire man Bernard Cocker, said another four trucks have been assembled in Sri Lanka using money donated to the charity locally.

The charity began pulling goods together to send out to the devastated country just hours after news reached Britain of the natural disaster which has so far killed 150,000.

And while countries such as Thailand and India struggle to deal with the aftermath of the killer waves, aid agencies in Sri Lanka are having to cope with flash flooding as well, prompting fears that water-borne disease could sweep the islands too.

Rev Cocker, who has run International Aid since the 1980s after being moved by the plight of those suffering in Chernobyl, said: "We have worked with a mission in Sri Lanka for about five years now, because thousands of people are suffering because of a civil war which has been going on for years.

"As soon as we heard what had happened, we began looking to see what we could do.

"We had a lot of stuff which was of use out there, including water purification kits, blankets and so on.

"The issue has been raising the money for transportation costs, but the public has responded magnificently to us and we've already been able to arrange for four shipments to go out already, and we are preparing more."

He said people had been donating goods, ranging from dried food to clothes, as well as cash at the charity's shops in Blackburn, Darwen, Great Harwood, Chorley, Leyland and Clayton Brook by the sackload.

Brinscall-based Mr Cocker said: "Items have been pouring in to our warehouse in Longton and people have been turning up to help pack things and sort stuff out. The response has been wonderful, but we need to do more.

"We are in contact with the mission out there and we were incredibly relieved when we found out our contacts out there hadn't been hurt by this natural disaster.

"People in this country seem to have been really moved by what has happened.

"Hopefully we will make a real difference."

Goods can be donated at International Aid Trust shops at: Queen Street, Great Harwood; Duckworth Street, Darwen; New Chapel Street, Blackburn, or you can call the Trust on 01772 611000.