GURKHA soldiers joined Army veterans to raise funds for former Nepalese soldiers and victims of the Himalayan earthquake.

Shoppers at Morrisons, in Bishop Auckland, were asked to make a donation to the Gurkha Welfare Fund which supports former soldiers.

Arnold Sanderson, of Spennymoor, in County Durham, a former sergeant in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) organised the event.

He was joined by Bill Foster, a former staff sergeant in the REME, and Gurkhas corporal Seemoon Limbo and corporal Krishna Rai, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

Some of the funds raised today (Thursday, May 14) will go towards the earthquake appeal.

Mr Sanderson said: “We have done very well and it always helps to have the Nepalese soldiers with us.

“The response has been fantastic and people are pleased to help us out.”

Mr Sanderson chose to help the Ghurkas after they were praised by his father, Clement Sanderson, who served with them in World War One.

Six-years ago Mr Sanderson helped to raise £9,000 to build the Friends Academy School, in Lamjung, Nepal.

Despite many of the homes round the school suffering damage in the earthquake the school appears to have escaped.