PEOPLE have been putting their hands deep in their pockets to support those in earthquake-stricken Nepal.

Cirencester’s Oxfam Book & Music Shop in West Market Place has already received £2,500 in donations after starting its Nepal Appeal a month ago.

More than 8,600 people lost their lives and almost 750,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the earthquake on April 25 and its major aftershock on May 12.

The monsoon season is about to start and tens of thousands of people are still living outdoors in makeshift shelters.

Shop manager Lawrence Lomas praised the “very very supportive people” who came in to donate but said there was still work to be done.

“The British are very good at giving money – just look at Comic Relief or Children in Need – we are a very generous nation,” he said.

“We’ve still only really scratched the surface though and we would still urge anyone who wants to donate to come in.”

Oxfam are one of the main charities helping in Nepal but much of their work has been hampered by the country’s poor infrastructure.

Despite this they have reached more than 150,000 people, distributing 12,204 tarpaulins, 13,913 hygiene kits and 4,844  food baskets – they have also installed 339 latrines.