A WEYMOUTH bank branch has raised more than £500 for victims of the devastating Philippines disaster and is the latest business to back the Echo Typhoon appeal.

Staff at The Halifax in Weymouth town centre have thrown their support behind the campaign, which comes after the Dorset Echo launched an appeal to help those in the stricken island country.

The Echo has joined forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which encompasses all of the UK major aid agencies.

Local businesses in the town centre also gave donations to the bank’s raffle including Upstairs Downstairs, Argos, The Hair Boutique, Chalbury Food and Wine, The Fantastic Sausage Factory, WH Smith, the Malboro fish and chip shop, and the Old Sweet Factor..

The Halifax branch raised £551.19 in total and Lorraine Dear, customer service consultant, said the fundraising day was a ‘real joint effort’ from staff at the branch and other town centre businesses.

She added: “We decided to go round a few other local businesses to see if they could help us raise money.

“They were more than happy to supply us with prizes for our raffle and we want to say a massive thank you to all of them.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support, not only from local businesses but also our customers who also want to help victims of the Philippines disaster.

“All of the staff here brought in donations to the raffle too, baked cakes and held a non uniform day to raise even more money.

“In total we have raised £551.19 for the Typhoon appeal and the raffle will be drawn today.

“We are just delighted.”

The money raised by the store in one day alone will be enough to feed one family for more than 11 weeks or provide emergency shelter and bedding for five families.

Dorset Echo Readers have so far raised £5,000 for the appeal.