AN earthquake hit village in India which is benefiting from the generous donations of Bolton people has sent its thanks to the town.

But the work to help the village devastated by the quake still goes on and the Mayor of Bolton's appeal is continuing to seek donations.

More than £14,000 was raised by local people to help provide a water pump for the village of Kavi in the Jambusar district of Gujarat. The earthquake earlier this year devastated the village's clean water supply and brought widespread suffering to the people of the area.

Mayor cllr Kevan Helsby said: "It was a real wonderful effort by everybody in the town and I'd like to thank everyone who contributed and to my predecessor, Councillor Alan Wilkinson who started the appeal.

"Human Appeal International, the charity working in the area, have bought the necessary equipment and once the monsoon season has finished they will be able to install the pump providing fresh water for the whole village and for their crops and animals.

"However the suffering hasn't ended and the Mayor's Appeal fund is still open if anyone would like to contribute to helping further."

The earthquake, with its epicentre at Bhuj, killed more than 30,000 people and left one million people homeless. As well as the Mayor's Appeal a further £15,000 was raised by members of Bolton's Shree-Kutch Lava community

centre to provide food and clothing and to design an earthquake-proof building.

If anyone would like to make a contribution to the appeal they can send a cheque made payable to the Mayor of Bolton's Indian Earthquake Appeal to the Mayor's Parlour, Town Hall, Bolton BL1 1RU.