MALVERN people will have the chance to help following the catastrophic earthquake in Nepal that has now claimed more than 5,000 lives.

Malvern Hills Lions will be holding a collection outside Marks and Spencer on the retail park in Malvern Link today and tomorrow from 10am to 5pm.

Geoff Lewis of the club said: "Every penny of the money we collect will go towards the relief effort. The Lions here in the UK have already arranged to send out water purification units and tablets to Nepal, which will help families by providing safe drinkable water in spite of the disaster."

Member of Colwall Rotary will also be doing their bit when they go out and about in the town centre from 9am to 5pm tomorrow collecting money for the relief efforts.

Funds collected will go to ShelterBox, which provides emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities overwhelmed by disaster.

Money can also be contributed to Malvern Party and Balloons in Church Walk, whose owner, Sarah Grout, said: "Rotary has had a long association with ShelterBox, who provide real and immediate aid when disaster strikes.

"The people of Nepal are in a terrible plight, so we urge Malvern residents to donate as generously as they can."

Three members of West Midlands Ambulance Service, Dr Malcolm Russell, paramedic Steve Watkins and Simon Greenfield, a HART paramedic, have flown out to Nepal to help with the recovery efforts.

Trust chief executive Anthony Marsh said: “Our good wishes go with all three of them as they go into what will undoubtedly be an horrific scene.

“We are pleased to be able to release these staff, who have specialist training, to be part of these organised humanitarian response teams.”