DONATIONS to a Derbyshire charity that has been sending out life-saving water purification kits to flood victims in Pakistan have exceeded the £100,000 mark in just four weeks.

The surge in money given to the Aquabox appeal means a third container of the boxes can be shipped out to flood stricken areas of the country in the next two weeks.

So far 500 Aquaboxes have been sent out to Pakistan where about 20 million people have been affected by the worst floods in recorded history. And members of Wirksworth Rotary Club, which runs the scheme, are hoping to send out a total of 1,000 Aquaboxes.

Trustee David Haspel said generous members of the public were still continuing to make donations with £1,000 raised during an open day at the charity's Cromford depot last Saturday.

He said: "Since we made a public appeal for donations so we can help the victims of the floods in Pakistan we have had more than £100,000 in donations.

"This has enabled us to send out 500 Aquaboxes, we have another 200 in storage and are awaiting the delivery of a further 100 from another Rotary club which will be sent in the next few weeks.

"We're waiting feedback from the organisations that are using the Aquaboxes out in Pakistan but the response to the appeal so far has been fantastic."

The standard Aquaboxes contain a water purification device that can purify enough water for a family of four for four months, as well as essential tools, cooking equipment and hygiene items.

Shipments of the Aqua 30, which can purify enough water for 150 people for 100 days, have also been sent out to Pakistan.

Wirksworth Rotary Club has been shipping Aquaboxes to victims of natural disasters, poverty and wars for 18 years.

The charity is supported by the Derby Telegraph's Give Water, Give Life campaign, which was launched in November and raised more than £280,000 to send the kits to the people of Haiti after the devastating earthquake there.

The United Nations has appealed for an initial £295 million to provide relief for Pakistan's flood victims, of which about 60 per cent has been given so far.

Mr Haspel added: "We will continue to send aid out for as long as we have the money. We ensure that every penny donated is used to fund Aquaboxes."

Anyone wanting to make a donation should send a cheque to Aquabox, PO Box 5398, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 4ZP. Cheques should be made payable to Aquabox.

For more information about the charity, visit www.aquabox.org.