A COMMUNITY body has pledged to release tens of thousands of pounds raised for October's South Asia earthquake "earlier rather than later."

The promise came after conditions in the disaster area continued to deteriorate and winter cold began to kill more and more people who had survived the quake itself.

But fund-raisers for the Kashmiri Association Blackburn (KAB) have hit out because the cash is still sitting in a bank account two months after the earthquake struck.

Waqar Hussain, a volunteer who helped raise money for the organisation, said he was disappointed that the funds were still sitting in the bank as more and more people were dying in the disaster zone.

"It's inconceivable the KAB committee is unaware of the urgency. An unforgiving winter has settled in the affected areas and many victims are still without shelters. Volunteers who gave up their weekends and evenings fund-raising are frustrated.

"We understand events have meant a delay in releasing the money but the disaster now deserves urgency."

Alan True, who also helped with the fund-raising effort, said: "I am fully aware fund distribution can have difficulties but surely this situation demands action now."

The President of the Kashmiri Association Blackburn admitted funds raised in its name had yet to leave the country.

Javaid Iqbal said: "It may take a few days or a few weeks but we are still in the process of totalling up the exact amount and winding up this period of the fund-raising process.

"We would ideally like to release the funds immediately but we must go through the proper due process. The money will go earlier rather than later."

The money was collected by local volunteers on behalf of the group over the past eight weeks.

But new elections at the Kashmiri Association on November 13 have also meant a delay in the administration process as have two deaths among the families of the new executive committee.

Fund-raising began within days of the earthquake and over £27,000 was raised within three weeks of October 8.