Macca donates £1m to quake appeal

Sir Paul and Heather McCartney are donating £1 million to the tsunami appeal, it was announced today.

The former Beatle is giving the money to the International Rescue Committee UK, an independent British charity.

The charity said it was "overwhelmed by this generous gesture" from the couple.

The British Government's aid for the stricken region has increased from £50 million to £75 million, while the British public have donated well over £100 million.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Tony Blair said 51 Britons were confirmed dead following the disaster.

They are among 453 Britons likely to have perished in the tragedy.

Other famous names to have donated large sums to the charity appeals include film director Steven Spielberg, who gave 1.5 million US dollars (around £800,000) and actress Sandra Bullock, who gave 1 million US dollars (around £530,000) to the American Red Cross.

Soccer star David Beckham is launching a worldwide TV appeal for child victims of the disaster after being appointed a Unicef goodwill ambassador.