AN appeal has been launched in the North-East to help the millions of victims of flooding in Bangladesh.

The country has suffered its worst monsoon since floods devastated the country in 1998.

The death toll is about 900 so far and still rising, and millions of families have lost their homes and livelihoods.

Amir Ahmed, director of Village Restart Bangladesh and the Newcastle Bang-ladeshi Association, said: "It is vital that we raise as much as we can to help those whose lives have been destroyed.

"Millions of people are homeless and there are forecasts of more monsoon rains to come. At the moment, 25 million people are affected and some of these will be the relatives of our fellow residents here in the North-East.

"I urge people to help the fund by making a donation with the Lloyds TSB bank."

Newcastle city councillor Nigel Todd, who helped launch the appeal this week, said: "I know that many people locally are very anxious about the situation."

Donations can be made to the Newcastle Bangladeshi Association Appeal Fund, sort code 30-93-71, account number 03925868.