A WORCESTER taxi-driver heading a fund-raising effort for the victims of the Kashmir earthquake disaster has raised a massive £12,000 - in just six days.

Haris Saleem was insp-ired to start collecting cash as he has family in the Milpur region of Kashmir, which is about 30 miles east from the epicentre of the quake. The 41-year-old frantically tried to call his relatives and was relieved when he finally heard his three brothers and numerous cousins had escaped.

Since then he has been asking friends, family and customers to give what they can to help out those affected - with children even giving their pocket money to the cause.

Haris' brother Asim - currently out in Kashmir - is helping with the relief effort and one of his other siblings - Arif, from Victoria Avenue, Worcester - is set to go out there in the next few days with the cash and to assess the situation.

Other family members in the stricken region have already begun delivering aid such as medication, blankets and food.

Haris, of Wyld's Lane, Worcester, said: "When I first heard what had happened I was shocked because I couldn't get through to my relatives.

"We just sat down as a family after and decided how we could best help the victims. It's encouraging that people realise victims over there need money more than us.

"It's a relief for me that my family are OK but many people were trapped in the rubble and died because there wasn't anybody to help them."

Meanwhile, former Worc-ester mayor and city councillor Allah Ditta, also from the Milpur district of Kashmir, is co-ordinating a fund-raising effort with the city's four rotary clubs.

He has sent out about 100 letters to city organisations appealing for help.

He said: "It's very desperate as, as yet, people have not yet had relief out there in places as it's so remote."

The death toll following the massive quake, which hit at 3.50am GMT on Saturday and measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, is now feared to be at least 35,000, with another 50,000 people injured.

More than two million people are estimated homeless and the UN is running a £150m appeal.