AN anxious Turkish coffee shop owner spoke of his desperation as he awaits news of a friend and his wife who live in town hit by a devastating earthquake.

Making call after call to his friend Armet, Mustafa Gocmen, who runs Elgar Coffee Shop in Reindeer Court, wiped away tears as he spoke about not being able to contact him days after an earthquake hit Turkey and Syria.

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Armet, his wife and their newborn baby were caught up in the earthquake on Monday when it hit their city.

Hours after Mr Gocmen spoke to the Worcester News he received the news he had been hoping for - the couple and their baby are safe and well.

However, their family are still trapped underground.

Worcester News:

Mr Gocman, through his sadness and despair at the situation, decided to raise funds through his cafe to pay for blankets and clothes for survivors in Turkey.

He said: "I just keep ringing him.

"I just hope one day he just picks up the phone.

"Firstly, when I saw the earthquake was a 7.8 magnitude tremor, straight away I said this is not very good.

"I was watching the news every day for the past two days, always, but last night, I decided I needed to turn off the television."

Through his tears, he said: "It is really very sad, really really upsetting.

"I hope that everyone is alive but it just upsets me.

"We are a family, even though I don't know most of the people affected they still are my family."

A recently married policeman and wife from Mr Gocman's village moved to one of the cities affected by the earthquake.

Despite not knowing them well, the two knew his parents and he said they had recently been found dead as a result of the earthquake.

Those working at the cafe have volunteered all their tips and are donating part of their wages to help those in Turkey.  

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This morning (Wednesday) customers have already helped raise £70 in just a few hours generously placing whatever they have in the donation jar on the counter.

On Monday, the cafe will count up the money raised and start buying blankets in Turkey for those affected.

They also accept blankets and clothes but stress that this will take longer to ship over to the countries affected.

Mr Gocman said is so thankful to everyone donating to the cause so far.