Businesses, organisations and schools throughout Bradford today continued to dig deep in support of the victims of the south Asian earthquake.

A huge fundraising effort is now underway throughout the district in a bid to deliver vital goods and services to people in the region before disease strikes.

Businesses throughout Bradford have pledged their support to an appeal launched on Monday by the Telegraph & Argus.

Restaurateurs Waheed and Shamsheer Akhtar, of Akhtar's on Leeds Road, will donate all proceeds raised from two £10-a-head six-course buffets on October 19 and 20.

Waheed Akhtar said: "We have had a lot of people asking how they can help and a lot of people who want to attend on one of the evenings.

"One of our tandoori chefs has family out in the region hit by the disaster and has flown out to help.

"Like everyone else, we are shocked and horrified by what has happened and want to do all we can to help.

"We are very happy to support the T & A appeal."

Members of the city's Sikh community are also backing the T & A campaign.

Rambir Singh Rai from the Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Gurudwara said a collection would be held at their Leeds Road temple on Sunday.

"We are all distraught about what has happened in Pakistan," said Mr Rai.

"We will be praying for them - they are our brothers and sisters.

"More than 500 people will worship with us on Sunday and all cash collected will be donated to the T & A appeal."

Bradford-based radio station Fast FM, on-air throughout the district during Ramadan, is set to stage an exclusive fundraising auction at the Hilton Hotel on Sunday.

Around 500 tickets for the event, which begins at 3.30pm, are available.

Organiser Ansar Aslam said: "Five unique and highly-prized items will be auctioned off during the event which will also feature a raffle and a short talk on what the money raised will be spent on."

Fast FM has already raised £45,000 which has been sent direct to Kashmir and Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.

Tickets for Sunday's event are available by contacting 01274 494162.

Fast FM is also keen to hear from charities working on the ground throughout the quake-stricken region who require financial aid. Contact Haji Nazir on 07973263860 for details.

The Bradford Family Service Unit (FSU) has raised £14,000, some of which is already being used by members of charity The Sahara Project, based in the stricken region.

FSU spokesman Ash Khan said: "We have approached friends of FSU who have been keen to help. The minimum donation so far has been £50.

"We have employees with family members out there. The money will be used to help people help themselves and get back on their feet."

A spokesman for Bradford-based supermarket giant Morrisons said staff in more than 400 stores nationwide were collecting cash for the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

And the Manningham-based Kashmir Crown Bakery is co-ordinating donations from business contacts in the district. Managing partner Asim Saleem said Bradford businesses had already pledged £50,000.

Mosques across the city are continuing to collect funds for the victims of Saturday's earthquake.

Madani Mosque has raised £21,700, with half of the money going to Muzaffarabad and the other half going to the Hazara district of Pakistan.

The Hanfia Mosque is getting closer to its target of £50,000, at the last count the figure stood at £41,000. The Islamic Cultural Centre on Killinghall Road has raised £31,000, Victor Street Mosque has raised £13,000 and the Islamic Missionary College on Shearbridge Road has collected £8,000.

The Noor-Ul-Islam Mosque on St Margaret's Road will start collecting funds on Saturday.

President of Bradford's Council for Mosque Khadim Hussain has urged big businesses to do whatever they can to raise money for victims of the earthquake.

Bradford University's Student Islamic Society has been out and about on campus all week collecting funds from staff, students and visitors.

A university spokesman said counselling services were available to staff and students affected by the disaster.

Schools across the district have been raising cash too.

Pupils from Heaton's Shaw House School have raised £1,000 in just three days for Islamic charity Ummah, currently working in the region.

Biology teacher Shaheen Yasin said pupils had "raided their piggy banks" to help.

And children from ten inner-city Bradford schools have been invited to take part in a fund-raiser which aims to raise £10,000 for the cause.

It takes place on Sunday at noon at the Karmand Community Centre in Leeds Road.

The event has been organised by BD3 4All, a partnership of ten schools which work together to provide extended services for the community.

Organiser Tazeem Sawaiz said: "This will be a multi-cultural event all about unity and peace and about breaking cultural barriers in time of need.

"Children will be reciting Naats, a form of Islamic poetry, and Christian prayers for people who have died or lost relatives in the tragedy.

There will also be an auction of goods and prizes donated by local businesses. Admission will be £2 for adults and 50p for children.

Any businesses which want to donate items for the auction should contact Tazeem Sawaiz at BD3 4ALL on (01274) 770211.

The schools taking part are Bradford Moor Primary, Feversham College, Bryon Primary, Barkerend Primary, Thornbury Primary, Killinghall Primary, St Mary's RC Primary, Peel Park Primary and Lapage Primary school.