SWINDON'S Midcounties Co-operative stores have helped to raise £40,000 in just more than a week for the victims of the Nepalese Earthquake.

The shops launched several emergency fundraising initiatives to support the International Co-operative Alliance’s appeal to support victims of the quake which decimated the country last month..

Customers, members and colleagues of The Midcounties Co-operative in Swindon and Wiltshire came out in force to contribute to the appeal by donating at dedicated collection points in all Midcounties trading sites, including its food stores, travel branches and pharmacy sites, and at its recent AGM.

Ben Reid, chief executive officer at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “The Earthquake in Nepal has touched people’s hearts across the world. We have worked hard across all our stores in Swindon and Wiltshire to make as much of a contribution to the International Co-operative Alliance’s emergency fundraising call as possible.

“The Midcounties Co-operative has a long history of fundraising and volunteering for local organisations and we are pleased at how our customers, members and colleagues have come together to make such a difference on an international scale.

“The money raised in our local stores will provide an invaluable contribution to supporting Nepal’s co-operative members in their work to rebuild and re-develop the co-operative economy in Nepal for long term sustainability.”

The money will go towards providing relief for the people of Nepal and co-operative members in the area.