ITALIAN chef Gianni Campanella has thanked the people of Devizes from the bottom of his heart for supporting a fund for the town of Amatrice that was devastated by an earthquake in August.

Mr Campanella, who runs Dolicipani Italian Bakery in Old Swan Yard, was amazed that customers donated £1,250 for the cause. He said: "I'm speechless and I want to thank all the people of Devizes who contributed.

"When we counted the money it was such a nice surprise to find out much had been given."

Mr Campanella set up the collection at his business as part of a fundraising initiative started by fellow Italian chef Mario Caramella who is preisdent of ITchefs.

He used the group's website to call on Italian chefs all over the world to help the town which is home to the popular dish of spaghetti all’amatriciana. He said at the launch: "For one month we will include all’amatriciana in our menus. At the end of the month we will donate part of the revenues generated for the relief of the areas hit by the earthquake.

"The money will be put into a common account and used to buy useful items to the people of Amatrice."

More than 230 people from the Italian hilltop town died in the earthquake.

Mr Campanella said: "As a partner of the initiative promoted by Itchefs-GVCI, a month ago we started collecting money for the city of Amatrice. People were amazing they put £1,200 in the pot and I immediately sent it to Italy. I haven't got words to thank people enough and on the behalf of Amatrice I say thank you."

In March last year Dolicipani was one of the stop offs for the late Terry Wogan when he visited Devizes as part of a TV food road trip programme. Mr Campanella cooked traditional Devizes cheesecake for Mr Wogan to sample. It is regularly on sale in the bakery.

In 2014 Mr Campanella won the Wiltshire heat of ITV’s Britain’s Best Bakery programme after he wowed the judges with their famous Napoli sourdough