People want to continue Princess Diana's work for charitable causes

Diana Charity Fund Inundated With Donations

The organisers say they can't yet put a figure on the total amount that's come in - but that the gifts have ranged from a few pence to millions of pounds. The desire to contribute is said to have been overwhelming.

The organisers say that since the fund was set up on Tuesday, there's been a huge volume of donations, from a child's 20 pence pocket money, sellotaped to a home-made card, to £3 million from a commercial company. And a bride telephoned to say she's asked her wedding guests to give money to the fund, rather than buy presents.

The avalanche of cheques and credit card donations both in Britain and overseas has been so overwhelming that there is not likely to be an estimate of how much has been received for several days.

Kate Day, from the law firm Mischon De Reya, said the fund, now a registered charity, would have to wait for cheques to clear and credit card donations to be processed after the weekend before they could give an accurate figure for donations.

A website has been set up to facilitate credit card donations.

The fund will be administered by Mischon de Reya, but the trustees will have wide ranging discretion over money donated.

So far only two of the trustees are in place. Anthony Julius, who was Diana's lawyer, and Michael Gibbins, her financial controller and Private Secretary. Ms Day told the BBC that the trustees, whoever is finally selected, will be able to direct the funds towards any charity or charitable cause they deem fit.

There's likely to be a big boost from the release of the special version of 'Candle in the Wind' sung at the princess's funeral yesterday. Elton John has announced proceeds from the single will go to the memorial fund. Lynne berry, executive director of the Charity Commission of England and Wales said the fund would be advised and regulated by the Comission.

She was patron of six charities:

• Centrepoint (for the young homeless)
• The English National Ballet
• Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, London
• The Leprosy Mission
• The National Aids Trust
• The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust

Nigel Slater, director of fund-raising at the Leprosy Mission, said he was "absolutely delighted" by the fund.

"We had been planning to meet with the other five charities of which the princess was patron or president to discuss ways in which we could co-ordinate the response. People will now know where they can send donations.

"A tremendous number of people have been ringing us asking how they can help as part of the outpouring of emotion. People want to know how they can respond," Mr Slater said.

The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
The County Hall
Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7PB