Two Wharfedale schoolgirls are preparing to embark on a 32-mile cycle trip to raise money for flood victims in Pakistan.

It was seeing television reports about the horrendous loss of life and damage caused by the country’s worst ever floods that spurred 11-year-olds Tilly Melechi and Maya Booton to take action.

The girls, both former Burley Oaks Primary School pupils who will start at Ilkley Grammar next month, will set off on a sponsored trip from Saltaire to Skipton and back on Wednesday, September 1.

They hope to raise £500 from the cycle – and have already collected £416 towards the total.

Tilly, who runs with Ilkley Harriers, said: “We heard about the devastation caused by the floods on the news and my friend and I decided that we would like to help. We both enjoy cycling, so we just thought a long bike ride would be a good fundraising idea.

“The most I’ve cycled before is only ten miles, so this will prove to be something of a challenge for me – in fact it will be the biggest cycle I’ve ever done! We’re hoping to get some training in first, though, and aiming to raise £500 from it.”

To support Tilly and Maya’s sponsored cycle call 01943 862282.

lThe Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Jim McKenna, meanwhile, has launched an eight-week appeal to raise funds for the millions of people who have been affected by the Pakistan floods.

Leeds City Council itself has donated £10,000 to start the fund off, and residents are being encouraged to organise their own fundraising events and to donate to collection buckets at many of the authority’s One Stop Centres and other properties.

The apeal is also urging people to give to the national Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), via text, online or cheque donations.

Triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rain, severe floods have been hitting Pakistan for three weeks now and are estimated to have affected three million people. More than 1,600 people have lost their lives, while nearly a million have either lost or been forced to abandon their homes.

Coun McKenna said: “It is very important that we come together as a city at this time. I hope many people will respond, to show their humanity and give support to help people affected by this natural disaster.”

Donations can be made via the DEC website, at dec.org.uk, or locally by giving to the Lord Mayor’s collection boxes.

l Bradford Council, meanwhile, has started its biggest fundraising campaign since the Valley Parade fire disaster to help flood victims. The authority has already donated £20,000 to the Red Cross and has now started a public appeal for the Disasters Emergency Committee.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Peter Hill, said: "We have a large number of residents in Bradford with Pakistani origins and many of them have extended family caught up in this disaster, so we have a particularly strong connection to what is happening.

“Our council has donated £20,000 and hopefully as a district we will be able to raise a considerable sum of money which will help to bring relief to as many people as possible.”

Bradford will be placing collection buckets in local authority buildings across the district, including in Ilkley and in Burley-in-Wharfedale, and council staff will also be organising fundraising events and collections.