A shop in Sandwich has raised more than £1,000 for the Nepal earthquake relief effort.

Sandwich Card Gallery in King Street is asking customers to make donations after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale devastated the country last week.

So far, more than 5,000 deaths have been reported and 10,000 are estimated to have been injured. Climbers at Mount Everest were also hit by an avalanche, with 18 dead and an estimated 150 people still stranded.

John Van Der Dol, who runs the shop, explained that he had been to Nepal on birdwatching tours before and had many friends there.

He said: “I have got lots of friends in Nepal.

“It’s a lovely country with lovely people. They are really wonderful, helpful people and I just thought ‘I’ve got to do something’.”

In addition to organising the collection in the shop, Mr Van Der Dol is donating £300 personally.

Already the shop has raised £1,200 from people dropping in a few pennies or sending Mr Van Der Dol cheques.

The funds will go to the Disaster Emergency Committee.

Mr Van Der Dol said every penny donated would be spent on the relief effort rather than administration costs.

He said: “I’ve had friends of mine in Kathmandu who have been in touch and said be careful where you send it.”

He hopes to raise more than £2,000 for the cause.