A worldwide charity appeal was set to raise £700,000 today as satellite parties in 174 cities around the world got under way alongside a "mother" event in London.

About 200,000 die-hard fans of the social messaging service Twitter attended the global event aimed at raising money, through ticket sales, to provide clean drinking water in developing countries.

More than 600 people descended on Shoreditch Studios last night for the London party, hosted by Twestival co-founder Tim Hoang.

The 26-year-old PR executive from Highgate and four friends were the first to bring together Twitter members last year.

"It began last August during a pub conversation," he said.

"We expected 30 or 40 people at the first one and... 300 people turned up. Then we saw interest from other cities. £700,000 is a lot of money for a drunken pub conversation."

Twestival organiser Amanda Rose said the internet had provided a unique opportunity for spontaneous fundraising, while participant Terese Christiansen, 29, from Stepney Green, said: "It makes you feel part of something bigger".

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