Pupils and staff at an Oxford school have set up a fund to raise £10,000 for the victims of this week’s earthquake in Pakistan.

The Iqra School, an Islamic school in David Nicholls Close, Littlemore, has rallied around to assist the aid operation.

On Wednesday, the Baluchistan region was hit by a quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale.

It triggered landslides which killed hundreds of people while they slept. Tremors also flattened many mud and timber huts, leaving thousands homeless in freezing conditions.

The Iqra appeal, launched in conjunction with Muslim Aid, is being co-ordinated by Dr Hojjat Ramzi, the school’s principal.

He said a number of the school’s pupils had connections with Pakistan, but called on people from all backgrounds to donate to the appeal.

The girls' school, which is based at the Lawn Upton building, is the city’s only Muslim faith school. It was established in 2003 and caters for more than 140 pupils.

Dr Ramzi said: “We are trying to raise £10,000 through the help of all the brothers and sisters, Muslim and non-Muslim, in Oxford.”

He added: “Two-hundred people have been killed, more than 2,000 have been made homeless and five villages have been destroyed.

“It is very cold out there, and we need to get warm blankets, jackets and tents to the people.”

The school starts a bucket collection today, and also welcomes donations made by cheque, made payable to the Iqra School (Pakistan Earthquake), and addressed to the school c/o 8 St Omer Road, Cowley, OX4 3HB.

For more details, call Dr Ramzi on 01865 714398.