Readers of The Comet responded to the newspaper’s appeal for the South Asia earthquake by donating 50 sacks full of tents and blankets to help the 2,500,000 homeless victims.

The appeal was close to the hearts of many local people with about 120 families in the Stevenage area having connections with Pakistan and many of them having lost close members of their family.

And the 50 sacks full were collected within two days of the appeal being launched.

Reporter Nicola Bastendorff was pictured on the front of the paper appealing for readers help to aid survivors in the devastated areas.

Editor Darren Isted said: "We have been staggered by the response of our readers.

"It was a simple appeal and it came hot on the heels of some hard-hitting news coverage of the event but we have still been taken aback.

"We are clearing our front reception of sacks full of blankets and sleeping bags only for them to be replaced by more just minutes later.

"This not only proves just how responsive our readers are but also what a force for good our newspapers can be."

The Comet joined forces with Humanity First - a UK charity making regular trips to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.