WE WOULD like to urge your readers to support the disaster appeal for the earthquake victims in Nepal.

The earthquake took place in that part of Nepal that we were driving through by road on our way back to Kathmandu from Pokhara exactly four weeks earlier.

It was a very special two-week holiday for us both, which had taken us first to north India and on by plane from Varanasi to Kathmandu in Nepal.

Most of the next seven days we spent visiting the historic monuments that have been damaged or destroyed as well as mixing with the hospitable local people, many of whose lives have been lost or so tragically affected by the earthquake.

I attach a photograph (see above) of us both in historic Durbar Square, which is now the scene of so much devastation.

Also a photograph of the Boudha Stoupa (see letters section of wiltsglosstandard.co.uk), the most important Buddhist monument outside Tibet, a sealed shrine containing treasured relics whose core probably dates from the early fifth century. This also has been badly damaged.

We have many other photos of Nepal in happier times.

On the night of our arrival in Kathmandu the Gurkha regiment and representatives of the British Army of which they are a part were having a bicentenary celebration in recognition of the special relationship between the two countries.

When we moved on to stay in Pokhara there was a strong Gurkha presence in the town where many soldiers were based and also had their homes and it is likely that Gurkha soldiers and their families will feature in the casualties and the awful consequences which will follow the earthquake.

As well as all of this is the likelihood that the majority of fragile buildings lived in by people in the rural communities near to the epicentre will have been destroyed and numerous more lives lost.

After having so recently returned from a memorable holiday it has been hugely upsetting to see the effect of this devastating earthquake on the people and places in Nepal that we had got to know so well on our short stay.

All the major charities have responded quickly and are receiving donations coordinated by the Disasters Emergency Committee.

For example you can contribute £5 to UNICEF by texting 70123 or ring through your donation to the British Red Cross on 0300 023 0816.

PETER and CHRISTA WIGGIN

Cirencester