It was supposed to give Birmingham's citizens the chance to show gratitude to the people of the Elan Valley which has been supplying their water for more than a century.

But seven weeks after Birmingham's Lord Mayor John Hood started a public subscription campaign to help create a heritage centre in the Elan Valley (pictured), the fund has collected less than #1,000.

It was set up after Birmingham City Council refused to contribute to the project and yesterday Coun Hood made a desperate plea for local people to "put their money where their mouth is".

So far only #978 has been raised by the fund, much of it consisting of small cheques of #5 and #10 donated by pensioners.

The campaign group behind the project has raised #53,000 and #10,000 has been donated by Severn Trent Water.

Coun Hood (Con Sutton Vesey) said: "I am desperate to get people to send money. We can't turn back the clock - the city council has made its decision.

"But I still want to get out to the people of Birmingham and say 'look, we haven't got the problems of the South-east here.

"We have guaranteed water every day of the week and it is down to our forefathers who had the foresight to bring water from the Elan Valley to Birmingham."

The valley was flooded to provide fresh water to the city and Coun Hood started the subscription fund by making a contribution of #101, reflecting the 101 years that Birmingham has taken water from the Elan Valley.

Earlier this year city council leader Mike Whitby (Con Harborne) refused to dig into public coffers, maintaining the project was of "limited direct benefit for the people of Birmingham".

That offended campaigners who claim Welsh water helped fuel the city's industrial revolution at the expense of more than 100 people who were evicted from the land.

The Birmingham Post has been inundated with letters from the public in support of the #550,000 museum bid.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has pledged #444,500 and a further #10,000 has been donated by Severn Trent, which owns the water pipes.

Peter Cox, chairman of Community Arts Rhayader and District and leader of the campaign group, said: "Our fund is currently up to #53,000 which is half way to where we need to be.

"We need to support the message of the importance of this historic relationship which is still being ignored by the city council."

* Anyone wishing to donate to the fund should send cheques made payable to CARAD to Peter Cox, chair of CARAD Trustees, East Street, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5ER.