YOUR readers' kind-hearted response to the Banana Appeal has been fabulous.

Numerous organisations, including schools, businesses and sports clubs, have pledged support to us over the coming year with fund raising events. The response from individual members of the public has been incredible, too - one kind lady has offered to auction about £1,000 of her jewellery to help provide 25,000 extra school meals and a German couple, who read the article while in Merseyside, have gone home to fund raise.

Readers have helped us greatly on the way to achieving our goal to raise £40,000 to provide one million school meals of fresh fruit to feed hungry children and AIDS orphans in Zululand in the coming year.

Kevin Allen,Banana Appeal(address supplied)