An appeal for funds to help the survivors of the earthquake in Nepal has been launched by South West-based Chartman, one of the Forecourt Trader Top 50 Indies.

Chartman director Clive Sheppard has contacted the group’s nine forecourts about the disaster where the death toll has exceeded 5,000 and is expected to rise further.

He points out that hundreds of thousands of survivors are sleeping with little or no shelter and Nepal is a country with very limited infrastructure and relatively few resources.

He adds: “In the past we at Chartman have teamed up most successfully to raise much needed funds when natural disasters have struck around the world, and I would ask you to once again put out collection boxes for people to donate. Please act now, and let’s try and make a difference together.

“A Shelterbox costs something just over £1,000. I would like to set a target of raising that sum over the next week.”

Clive said that if any other forecourts would like to join in they will be more than welcome. They can do this by putting out collecting buckets, then sending a cheque for funds collected, made payable to “Pump Aid” for his attention, to Winning Post Service Station, A38 Haldon Hill, Exeter, EX6 7XS.