CURRY houses in Oxfordshire have raised thousands of pounds to help victims of the Bangladesh cyclone disaster.

More than 3,000 people were killed and over a million homes damaged or destroyed when the storm struck the south-west coast of the country earlier his month.

Owners of curry restaurants across the county - many of whom have roots in Bangladesh - pledged half of a night's turnover to an appeal for people affected by Cyclone Sidr, the worst storm to hit the country in 37 years.

The restaurants are donating the money to the joint Oxfam and British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce Appeal, and to the Bangladeshi High Commission to ensure that food, medicines, shelter, and other vital aid can be delivered quickly.

Organisers of the appeal said the situation in Bangladesh was desperate - with a lack of sanitation and fresh water, raising fears of cholera outbreaks.

Food shortages are also forecast and food and fuel prices are already rising quickly.

Aziz-ur Rahman, owner of the Aziz restaurants in Oxford and the director-general of the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, said: "Our community has come together with incredible strength to help the people affected by this devastating cyclone.

"It's fantastic that so many restaurants are donating half of their turnover to this appeal.

"I'm hugely proud of what Oxfordshire's Bangladeshi community is doing."

Cathy Ferrier, Oxfam's fundraising director, said: "The efforts being made by Oxfordshire's Bangladeshi community are fantastic, and this was a great way of raising funds for the appeal."

Donations can be made to the Oxfam and BBCC Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal on the Oxfam website at www.oxfam.org.uk/bbcc Oxfam is also a part of the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. To make a donation, call 08706 060900 or visit www.dec.org.uk