MELINDA Messenger is among the scores of celebrities who have thrown their weight behind the appeal to help millions of starving people in Niger.

The Swindon mum helped man the phones to take donations from the public after a high-profile advertising campaign was launched to encourage people to dig deep.

About 140 volunteers also took to the phones last night to support the appeal, which has been organised by the Disasters Emergency Committee. Posters advertising the Niger Crisis Appeal were also unveiled in charity shops and high street banks.

Almost eight million people are at risk of starvation in the west African countries of Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkino Faso after a drought and a locust plague left them badly affected.

The DEC is an umbrella organisation uniting 13 of the UK's major aid agencies, including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save The Children, to help with major disasters overseas.

It has said that the starving people need at least £8m to help their plight.

Around 2.5 million people are suffering from food shortages, with at least 800,000 children at risk of malnutrition.

Melinda, 34, mother of Morgan, five, Flynn, three, and 18-month-old Evie, who lives near Purton, said she had been devastated by the footage on television.

"I wanted to help in any shape or form that I could," she said. "Particularly being a mum, to see children and babies in that situation tore my heart out.

"People are being so generous and to see that happening is amazing. If everybody gives something then big changes are made."

Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0870 60 60 900. Donations can also be made at any high street post office or bank or by cheque to the DEC Niger Crisis Appeal, P O Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA.

Stephanie Tye