  We model a radiating star undergoing dissipative gravitational collapse in
the form of radial heat flux. The exterior of the collapsing star is described
by the generalised Vaidya solution representing a mixture of null radiation and
strings. Our model generalises previously known results of constant string
density atmosphere to include inhomogeneities in the exterior spacetime. By
utilising a causal heat transport equation of the Maxwell-Cattaneo form we show
that relaxational effects are enhanced in the presence of inhomogeneities due
to the string density.
