Keighley Muslim Association launched an earthquake disaster appeal this week -- and raised £8,500 on its first day.

The association, which runs Keighley's biggest mosque in Emily Street, kickstarted the appeal with a £1,000 donation.

Mosque leaders were heartened by expressions of support and sympathy received from the entire community of Keighley.

Chief administrator Mohammed Ajaib expected the appeal to rapidly overtake the £10,000 raised following the tsunami appeal in January.

He said the cash would probably be taken directly to the disaster zone by a representative from Keighley.

He added: "A lot of organisations and people have been in touch. A lot of people from that area of Kashmir live in Keighley. We're expecting a lot of help from the community."

Mahmood Alam, secretary of the Muslim Association, said money might be donated through the Council of Pakistan or taken out direct.

Money can be donated to a Yorkshire Bank account, sort code 050535 and account number 17387778.

Cheques made payable to Keighley Muslim Association can be taken to the Jamia Mosque in Emily Street, Lawkholme, or the mosque in Albert Street, near Keighley library.

l Keighley's Radio Ramadan plans to launch its own relief mission to earthquake-hit Pakistan.

Two volunteers will take money and gifts donated by listeners to the month-long community broadcaster.

The station, based at the Ghosiyah Centre in Skipton Road, began its fundraising campaign on Monday.

By yesterday it had received £15,000 in pledges and expected many more promises over the weekend. The total will be boosted when Keighley teenager Badra Hussain gives readings on the air on Sunday at 10pm. Badra, 16, raised £15,000 for the planned Ghosiyah mosque by reciting naats -- spiritual poetry -- during a previous broadcast.

Radio Ramadan manager Raja Tufail said the station's two volunteers would pay for their own travel to the disaster zone.

He said: "We want to take the donations to where they are most needed. We will not give the money to any charity, we want to make sure it all goes direct to the people." Radio Ramadan broadcasts on 107.2FM.

l Keighley schoolchildren are rallying round to raise money to help the victims of the Pakistan earthquake.

Greenhead High School pupils took home an envelope on Monday to collect funds from family and friends.

Marilyn Boyd, director of main school, said: "Clearly the disaster has effected children and staff at Greenhead, so as a school we are responding with an activity to raise money.

"The survivors are in need of immediate relief so we will be collecting the envelopes today so we can provide effective emergency aid as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Mrs Boyd said the school would send the money to the Shelter Box Trust, which would send special boxes -- containing a rugged ten-man tent, ten sleeping bags and essential items such as water purification tablets, heating equipment and cooking utensils - to the worst effected regions in a bid to house the thousands of people left homeless by the quake.

The school hopes to top the massive effort made after the Boxing Day tsunami last year, in which the school raised £5,000 in just four days.

l Keighley Town Council and the town's Inter-faith Group have teamed up to run a joint appeal for cash to help relief work.

Collecting boxes were being placed in many shops and businesses around the town to ensure a swift response.

The Inter-faith group, made up of people of various religions in Keighley, is also asking for direct donations from businesses. The cash will be sent to the affected areas of Kashmir through the national Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal. Group spokesman Charlie Bhowmick expected fundraising would exceed what was raised for the tsunami appeal early this year.

He said: "We made a substantial amount so we're hoping people will give even more this time. We had to act quickly. People who live in this town are from that area of Pakistan, so we feel we should all support them. Although we don't all know those families in Pakistan, we all know someone who has family over there." Cheques should be made out to Keighley Inter-faith Group and sent to treasurer John Cope at 20 Lidget, Oakworth, BD22 7HH.