The switchboard at a small charity office in Bradford has been jammed with callers from across the globe following an appeal by former cricket star Imran Khan.

Twenty volunteers took credit card donations totalling £67,000 as part of the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal telethon which was launched by the former Test cricketer on a satellite channel in Dubai.

The telethon, which ran from 11am to 3pm, took more than 600 calls on Sunday, and organisers at the charity's UK head offices in Little Horton Lane said cheques were still flooding in.

The charity, which helps cancer patients in Pakistan who are unable to afford treatment, was set up by the 51-year-old former Pakistan captain after his mother, Shaukat Khanum, died of cancer in 1985.

Packaging designer Angelo Clarke, 38, of Pudsey, was one of the volunteers manning the phonelines.

He said: "It is the second time I have been involved, and I came again because it is the best way you can spend your Sunday and there is no better reason to get out of bed.

"I was only here for a couple of hours but I just felt uplifted."

All calls were routed to Bradford and pledges were taken from all over the world including Germany, Spain, Ireland, Scotland and Holland.

Mr Clarke said: "That Bradford is being an ambassador for this worldwide appeal is fantastic."

Father-of-four Ishfaq Khan, 31, of Frensham Drive, Great Horton, also gave up his Sunday to take calls.

He said: "We were all focused on helping the poor and needy and it was great to see people from different communities coming together."

Chris Ireson, 57, a charity development officer from Wetherby, said: "It is good to know that you are doing some good and giving a bit of time back to the community."

Anita Bolland, 49, a project manager from Leeds, said: "It was a very humbling experience. A lot of children gave their pocket money."

The charity's offices are provided free of charge by accountants firm T Nawaz and Company.

Accountant Taher Nawaz, who is also a governor for the cancer charity, said: "The community here in Bradford has been marvellous.

"People tend to focus on the negative issues but here you have an example of the community working together to help alleviate the suffering of others."

Imran Khan is due to be in the city in December when he will be installed as the University of Bradford's fifth chancellor.