A grandmother dubbed Queen of the Donkeys for her work delivering aid to Afghanistan has launched a new appeal.

Hermione Youngs, 56, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, won international acclaim after she completed a 450km trek into Afghanistan following the outbreak of war last autumn.

She crossed inhospitable passes and snow-covered peaks, using donkeys for part of the way, to deliver 200 metric tonnes of food, clothing and medicines to destitute villagers.

On her return, Mrs Youngs was chosen to launch the United Nation Children's Fund (Unicef)'s Afghan Crisis Leaf Appeal alongside cricketer's wife Jemima Khan.

Now, following the earthquake in Afghanistan, on March 25, Mrs Youngs, who is currently based in Peshawar, Pakistan, has launched a fresh appeal for aid.

It was spurred by the deaths of family members of a close friend in the earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, which destroyed the town of Nahrin in the Baghlan province of Afghanistan.

She said: "Although I have been involved in rescues, rehabilitation and reconstruction work due to earthquakes in Afghanistan before, this particular earthquake affected me personally.

"The town of Nahrin is home to one of my closest friends, Seyer, and his family and relatives are also my friends.

"On this day, five of them were killed, two were seriously injured and three suffered from minor injuries, and 14 families have been made homeless."

Mrs Youngs was asked to look after Seyer's children when he and other family members, who had been out of the area when the earthquake struck, returned to Nahrin.

She now hopes to help the family rebuild its shattered homes and restore its land.

"These already poor people had little and that has all been destroyed", she said.

"I am trying to find support for Seyer's extended family - 112 people in total. "To ensure that food will be available for next winter, everything has to be done in five months - a monumental task even in normal circumstances."

Mrs Youngs appealed for donations to be sent to Standard Chartered Grindlays Bank Limited, Peshawar Branch, PO Box 18, 35 Shahrah-a-Quaid-e-Azam, Peshawar, Pakistan, account name Hermione Youngs, number 05-7779933-90