LIVES will be saved thanks to big-hearted Worcester News readers who responded overwhelmingly to a campaign to help Kashmir earthquake survivors.

That is the view of ex-Worcester Mayor Councillor Allah Ditta, who appealed for clothing and blankets to keep people in his country warm during the winter.

Kashmir, which straddles India and Pakistan, was hit by a devastating earthquake on October 8 last year. More than 75,000 people died, including members of Mr Ditta's own family.

But earlier this year, the city councillor concentrated his efforts on those who survived, and as the campaign drew to a close, he claimed the Faithful City's residents had prevented more casualties of the natural disaster.

He helped this week to fill a 40ft container with the donations, which will soon be making their way to the needy inhabitants.

He said: "I am sure that the efforts of the people of Worcester will help to save at least one or two lives.

"The winters out there are bitter, and to keep warm could mean the difference between life and death.

"I cannot praise local people enough, everyone has been wonderful, it has been overwhelming. We have had shoes, clothes, blankets, socks, all sorts and they have not all been old. Some of the items still had their labels on them and had been bought for the appeal."

A giant container has been provided free of charge to take the goods and will be shipped to Karachi in Pakistan. From there, it will continue its journey on to the capital Islamabad.

The efforts of Worcester people towards this cause have been noted before.

Just after the earthquake, more than £100,000 was raised locally. This figure was in addition to the £300,000 donated to the Disasters Emergency Comm-ittee by the people in Herefordshire and Worc-estershire. It wasn't just been individuals who helped out this time, though. The Worcester South Rotary Club was heavily involved, even to the point of arranging the free container, and it was from chairman John Bennett's farm that this was loaded. Businessman Ben Xu also donated £500.

One last thank you went to the Worcester News. Mr Ditta added: "Nearly everyone who called me to donate something mentioned they had read about the appeal in the Worcester News, and it is down to the paper that we have done so well."