THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised through bucket collections in the Bradford district to help victims of the Nepal earthquake.

The Bingley Airedale Rotary Club has sponsored many previous projects in Nepal and one of its senior members, Mike Bamford and his wife Dot, were on holiday south of Kathmandu when the devastating tremor hit.

Mr Bamford, from Eldwick, is also Bradford's Rotary Assistant District Governor, and he and his wife were at the end of a three week trip to celebrate his 70th birthday when the disaster struck.

More than 200,000 homes are thought to have been seriously damaged in the devastating quake which hit large areas of Kathmandu and the Mount Everest region on Saturday, April 25.

The Bamfords had been staying to the south of the capital in an area which escaped serious damage, but had to make their way to the capital for their return flight home.

"We arrived back in Kathmandu three days after the earthquake and were then right in the middle of what was going on," said Mr Bamford, who has been visiting Nepal for many years.

He quickly linked up with Nepalese Rotarians and offered help on the ground.

"It was difficult, but I managed to cash travellers' cheques worth £1,250 and donate the money which was used immediately to buy tarpaulins, bedding, food and rice which were then delivered and distributed to people within 24 hours," Mr Bamford said.

Back in Bradford district, Mr Bamford has joined many Rotarians raising money for Nepal - such as Bingley Airedale Rotary Club, which held bucket collections in Bingley 5 Rise shopping centre, collecting over £2,500.

Members from The Rotary Club of Bradford West collected in Tesco, Great Horton, where they bag packed and raised £540.

And Bingley Grammar School is holding a non-uniform today, with participating pupils donating £1 which will then be donated to Bingley Airedale Rotary Club to be sent directly to Nepal. Should anyone wish to contribute, they can send cheques to Terry Brown, 53 Oakwood Drive, Bingley BD16 4SJ or they can contact him on 07977 570333.

Meanwhile, Dr Aziz Ahmad Hafiz, a GP and president of Keighley Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, is spearheading Humanity First's emergency response to the disaster.

A 12-strong team of volunteers – including doctors, paramedics, firefighters and logistics staff – was despatched. Following briefings with the United Nations and the Nepalese authorities, the team was stationed in Gorkha – near the epicentre of the quake – where it has set-up a primary care clinic.

"A tragedy of such magnitude brings home the reality of nature's forces and how small and insignificant we are," said Dr Hafiz, who has been a volunteer with the charity for 20 years since he was a student at the former Greenhead School in Keighley.

"I am indebted to all our volunteers who have taken time off from their day jobs to go and offer their services, as well as the many members of the public here in Keighley and across the UK who have donated so generously."