Guardian appeal nears £2 million

This year's Guardian and Observer Christmas appeal has raised £1,649,645 so far which, when Gift Aid is added, will total £1.94 million.

The appeal total, the most that the newspaper's Christmas appeal has ever raised, was boosted considerably after it started accepting donations to Concern, one of its charity partners, in the wake of the 26 December 2004 Asian tsunami disaster.

Following that, 17,000 Guardian and Observer readers made donations to the appeal.