A Bradford charity is planning to buy sewing machines to help survivors of the South Asian earthquake get back to normality.

The Jannat Welfare International Trust, which was set up by the Shipley-based Aagrah restaurant chain, has collected more than £40,000 to help people.

Aagrah chairman Mohammad Sabir, who was recently awarded an MBE, spent more than two months in the region in the aftermath of the quake and is now preparing to return there.

"These people need everything that human beings need," he said. "We are hoping to provide about 200 sewing machines. We will start in Bagh because that's one of the worst affected areas. A lot of aid goes to Muzaffarabad and I think the people of Bagh need it more.

"They have no homes and no clothes. Instead of having to buy new clothes from a shop, if they have sewing machines, people can buy the material and make clothes themselves."

Within days of the quake striking Kashmir and Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, the trust had raised £32,000 from staff, family and customers.

Money has been spent on coffins for burying the victims, medicine in hospitals and some cash was given out to people who had lost everything.

It has also paid for an ambulance to transport the sick and injured from remoter villages to hospitals in the cities.

Since his return to Bradford, Mr Sabir has received several phone calls from people he helped in the initial aftermath and he hopes to be able to pay for some of the injured to receive rehabilitation.

The Aagrah's Shipley branch will host a dinner tomorrow for more than 100 supporters who have helped the trust's work, including members of Radio Ramadan, Asian Trade Link and Shipley MP Philip Davies.

Aagrah managing director Mohammed Aslam, who is Mr Sabir's brother, said: "We want to say thank you to the supporters of the foundation. We have worked as an individual group as well as working with community groups and other organisations, such as Radio Ramadan and Asian Business Link to raise funds.

"I was gob-smacked by the response. As a nation in the UK it has kept us together rather than divide us and we are very pleased to be part of that community. Because I am from Kashmir I did not want to ask for money but charity begins at home."