SHOPPERS in Bromsgrove town centre raised almost £200 to help save maltreated bears in China and Vietnam.

Volunteers from Animals Asia held a collection in the high street on Saturday (July 22), and have thanked those who donated for their generosity.

Christine Coldrick, Worcestershire co-ordinator for Animals Asia, said: "I would like to thank everyone who gave so generously and enabled us to collect the sum of £196.60."

Animals Asia was founded in 1998 to protect and rescue moon bears subjected to the painful extraction of bile from their gall bladders for use in Chinese medicine.

Christine added: "The charity has extended its activities to the welfare of cats and dogs in China, where they are often abandoned and sometimes sold in meat markets, and to the protection of animals in the country's zoos and safari parks, where they often suffer abuse."

For more information visit animalsasia.org or email chriscoldrick@gmail.com.