One set of volunteers have collected over £25,000 by a conducting a host of activities from bag packing to organising an Iftari charity dinner.

The 8/10 group based at the Kashmiri Association Blackburn was formed after a group of like-minded people met days after the earthquake to discuss how to raise as much money as possible for the victims.

With the support of the Kashmiri Association the 8/10 Group organised two bag packing days at Morrisons Blackburn, which raised over £5,500, a charity Iftari, which netted £3,500 and street collections in Manchester and Blackburn raised over £3,000.

A collection and bag-packing day at Tescos helped raise over £3,000.

Two childrens events also proved highly popular. Fatima Hussain organised an evening for mums and kids at Smiles and Faces and a charity fyn day at the Accrington Mega-Bowl.

Over 70 donation bottles were also distributed throughout the county. These raised over £2,000 and the group would like to thank all the participating oulets for their help.

Co-ordinator Waqar Hussain said, We have exceeded all expectations but we still have many events in the pipeline.

"We are grateful to Morrisons and Tesco for allowing us to help shoppers to pack their bags and raise funds for a disaster that has affected millions."

Several hundred bags of clothes and blankets were also donated to the Kashmiri Association by members of the public and these have already been shipped out to Pakistan.

Mr Jawaid Iqbal, president of the Kashmiri Association, said: "The earthquake was a terrible natural disaster and so many have lost their lives.

I am pleased to note the spirit of generosity shown by all the community of Blackburn with Darwen in helping to raise funds."