Over £40,000 has been raised in just five days by the Black Santa's appeal with his charity ‘Haiti barrel’.

The famous barrel, which has raised thousands of pounds in the annual Christmas sit-out at St Anne's Cathedral, has attracted a large response in the special appeal for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

“I would hope by Thursday to send a first instalment of £50,000 to Haiti via Christian Aid which has had a team working there prior to the disaster,” Dean Houston McKelvey said.

“We will keep the barrel open until Sunday, February 7 when the local charities and groups will receive their donations from the sit-out at a Good Samaritans Service at 3.30pm.”

The Haiti barrel has been placed inside the front door of the cathedral and visitors are welcomed by cathedral stewards and staff who can also supply Gift Aid envelopes.

The cathedral is open from 10am to 4pm on weekdays and from 10am to 1pm and from 3.30pm to 4.30pm on Sundays.