A WROUGHTON businessman needs your help to bring relief to survivors of the Asian earthquake and tidal wave.

Around 20,000 people are now thought to have died in the Boxing Day quake, including 11 Britons.

Scores more have been left homeless after a 30ft torrent of water travelling at 300 mph engulfed whole towns and villages.

Now Manolito Shando is urging Advertiser readers to donate unwanted Christmas presents.

Clothes, blankets, and food with a long shelf life are sought.

Indonesia was worst hit. In Sri Lanka, around 4,000 people are believed to have died, including 170 children in an orphanage.

Elsewhere, many of the low-lying islands that make up the Maldives were completely submerged.

And in India, 1,705 people were killed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Mr Shando, managing director of Navaho Ceramics, on Swindon Road, and fianc Caroline Hessernan, both 45, are regular visitors to Sri Lanka. And when the pair saw reports flash up on their television they knew they had to act.

Yesterday saw Mr Shando clear a warehouse ready for donated items. "We visit Sri Lanka every six months and we have many, many friends over there," he said. "They are lovely, warm people and we have both fallen in love with the country."

The quake, which measured 8.9 on the Richter scale, was the most powerful in 40 years.

And it's feared the death toll in some of the world's most impoverished areas will rise yet further unless aid reaches them fast. Mr Shando said: "I was devastated when the news broke. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

"We only returned from a three-week holiday in Sri Lanka in October and we recognised many of the places.

"Our trip had included visits to orphanages. It is not a rich country but it gets by thanks to tourism.

"Obviously, that has gone for the foreseeable future.

"All communication lines are down so we can't even check on our friends."

Mr Shando and his fiance were hoping to jet out for another break in the spring.

Instead, they're hoping to organise a mercy trip within the next few days.

"I have some Sri Lankan friends in London who are organising things that end," he said.

"It's still early days but once we have collected a sizable amount of donations we will approach one of the big international charities."

Paddington survivor Janette Orr, from Swindon, was among those caught up in the disaster. Mrs Orr, 41, of Abbey Meads, was holidaying in the Thai resort of Patong when the wave struck.

The trip was arranged to help her deal with the trauma of the 1999 rail disaster that killed 31 people.

Anna Green and Simon Miles also of Swindon were hoping to tie the knot in Ahungalla, on the east coast of Sri Lanka, but the unfolding disaster put paid to their plans.

Donated items can be dropped off at the firm, on the Wroughton Business Park. Mr Shando can be contacted on 01793 815266.

Kevin Shoesmith