A COMMUNITY centre will be used as the base for an appeal for victims of the Indian earthquake.

The Bank Top Community Association is using the Bank Top Community Centre, on Oakenhurst Road wants blankets, clothes and any other "non-perishable items" which they will then send to the western state of Gujarat, which was hit by the earthquake nearly two weeks ago.

Eddie Duxbury, vice chairman of the association, said donations would also be asked for to go towards the Earthquake Appeal backed by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

He said: "We particularly want children's and baby clothes that we can send over. What happened has been awful and it hard to put into context the devastation if it happened in this country."

Collections can be dropped off at the centre during opening hours which are, Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Other fundraising events being organised in the borough include a Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy Sale, to be held Lammack Methodist Church, Lammack Road, Blackburn on Saturday.. The two hour event will run from 10am to 12 noon and admission 50p. On Monday there will be a Charity Night at Sukhi's Indian Cuisine, in Blackburn Road, Darwen.

The East Lancashire Hindu Society is holding a Memorial Service for victims on Sunday February 18 at the Comfort Inn, Burnley. It will be held between 2pm and 4pm.