Maidstone's huge Nepalese community is appealing to members of the public to donate to victims of the earthquake in their homeland.

The death toll continues to climb following Saturday's disaster, with the current number of lives lost standing at more than 4,000 and officials predicting the figure could rise to 10,000.

Last night more than 40 members of the Maidstone Nepalese Community gathered at a house in Lombardy Drive, Vinters Park, to package up much needed provisions and load them into a van bound for Heathrow.

In just three days the group has collected more than 120 sleeping bags, blankets and tents, 100 bags of clothes and numerous boxes of food.

As one volunteer, 23-year-old Avishek Joshi, said, despite the monumental effort, so much more is needed.

Mr Joshi was due to fly to Nepal for a trekking holiday, having booked the trip the night before the tragedy.

He said: "Everything's up in the air at the moment. I don't know if my flight will even go ahead, but if it does I am planning to go out and volunteer in the relief effort."

The effort comes as Gurkha soldiers from the town and Folkestone fly to the country.

Last night vigils were held in Ashford and Folkestone for the victims of the disaster.

Another of those affected by the 7.8 magnitude quake is Yunil Gurung, whose mother, 71-year-old Dil and former Gurkha father 72-year-old Ganesh, both from Vinters Park, are currently on holiday in Kathmandu.

The 45-year-old dental technician said: "I heard from my parents after the disaster struck but haven't spoken to them since. They have been sleeping outside for three nights now.

"My mother returned to the house they were staying in after the earthquake and saw that the cabinet had fallen on the place she was sitting. She had a very lucky escape."

He added that his parents, who are staying with his in-laws, are due to be back from their holiday in the middle of May.

Chairman of the community, which includes more than 1,200 Nepalese people in Maidstone, Dhan Chand urged people to contact him at dhanchand@hotmail.com to arrange donations.

So far the group have received support from Maidstone Borough Council, Voluntary Action Maidstone, Kent County Council and Black Minority and Ethnic community in the town.