The first of three jumbo jetloads of 5,000 tents arrived at Chengdu airport and will give shelter to 30,000 people made homeless by the devastation.

They were immediately sent by road tobe distributed in areas of need in Sichuan Province. An earlierconsignment of 3,000 tents bought in-country arrived in the area on May 20 by rail.

The Chinese ambassador Fu Ying said that she was very grateful for the quick response of Britain in its relief effort:

"We are very grateful to the help offered by the British government. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown came to the embassy. He expressed hiscondolences and he said Britain is committed with $4m US dollars, half in cash and half in kind".

As well as the government, the British business community, charities and people from all walks of life have showed their support in one way or another.

The Chinese embassy has received £700,000 (RMB 10m) donated by the British public while British companies are making more sizeable donations which have so far amounted to some £5.4m (RMB 81m). Additionally,contributions in kind are also being made by British firms, for example, a fleet of six excavators and supplies of pharmaceuticals.

Madam Fu Ying said that Britain has assembled a team of doctors experienced in dealing with earthquakes:

"And there is also a British medical team which has arrived and the embassy is really bombarded by letters of condolences, sympathy, donation. We received altogether £700,000. The Queen also sent a letter of condolences".