Shops report a mixed reaction to earthquake

The earthquake which hit Pakistan and Indian and Pakistani-controlled areas of Kashmir has killed more than 23,000 people so far.

Oxfam in Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth, has reported a massive increase in donations for the relief effort.

Manager Sue Thorne said: "There are people who might not normally donate digging around in their cupboards and wardrobes to donate old clothes and other items.

"The main problem for us is that after our main Weymouth shop in St Mary's Street closed some people are unaware we even exist here.

"Overall, though, the response has been great and we have had huge loads of goods being delivered. I would like to ask people to check the items they donate as we do get a lot of chipped pottery or jigsaws with pieces missing which we can't then sell."

Mary Jenkins, manager of Help the Aged in Weymouth, said that although the level of contributions was good the earthquake had not had the same impact on the public that other disasters had had.

She said: "After the Asian Boxing Day tsunami there was an overwhelming response from the public and the donations poured in.

"It may be a case of charity fatigue, or maybe the earthquake just hasn't had the same impact on people." All Help the Aged shops have started collecting money for the Disaster Emergency Committee, which will be sent out to the affected areas.

One fundraiser has been refused permission to start a collection outside the Somerfield supermarket in the Littlemoor shopping centre in Littlemoor Road, Weymouth.

Esmee Nichols from Bayard Road in Littlemoor was refused permission by the supermarket to collect on behalf of victims of the disaster. She said: "I was only going to stand there with a bucket. People might put in 50p or the £1 they used for the trolley rather than sending a cheque which they could not afford."

Somerfield press officer Julie Daniels said: "We do have to carry out checks to make sure everyone collecting is genuine."