VITAL shelter is on its way to Pakistan earthquake victims left homeless in remote areas of Kashmir as generous Worcester people dig deep to help.

More than £5,500 was donated by shoppers in the city centre on Saturday - enough to buy 11 shelter boxes, each containing a tent for 10 people, with sleeping blankets, cooking utensils and water purification tablets.

Seven thousand similar boxes, including some from Worcester, have already been shipped out from Rotary Clubs in the United Kingdom.

The four Rotary clubs in Worcester set up a shelter box tent outside the Guildhall on Saturday and the Mayor of Worcester, Coun Aubrey Tarbuck, joined Rotarians and members of the city's Muslim community to carry a collecting box.

After giving all the coins from her purse, one elderly lady was so impressed with the shelter box scheme that she went to her bank and drew out another £50 for the collection.

Ted Smith, of the Rotary Club of South Worcester, said: "Other sums of money, both large and small, were donated by many generous people, who wanted to give freely to help others who desperately need assistance. The tent created a phenomenal amount of interest."

He said it would take about a week for the boxes to be despatched by the Rotary Shelterbox team.

Rotarian Mark Pearson, who e-mailed news and pictures of the aid operation in Kashmir, described the conditions in which 60 boxes were set up.

"It was so steep that the shelter boxes couldn't be transported, so they carried the tents separately on their backs about 1km (3,280ft) to the highest point in the village of Arjia, which is 2,500m (8,202ft) high.

"Until today there has been no aid here. Because of the high altitude the night time is way below zero, so what we provided was a lifeline for these people," he said.

l Staff at Worcestershire County Council are making a special effort for earthquake victims. At County Hall, there are collecting boxes at reception and in the staff canteen, while social care officers are touring the building with collecting buckets.

Staff have also been invited to donate blankets and clothing, which will be passed to Worcester Muslim Welfare Association Earthquake Appeal along with the cash raised.

l Anyone who wants to donate to the Rotary Club appeal can send cheques, payable to Worcester South Rotary Club, to the County Cricket Ground, New Road, Worcester, WR2 4QQ