A FORMER Redditch man is helping the relief efforts in a rural part of Pakistan devastated by Saturday morning's earthquake.

Jonathan Wharrad, 32, formerly of Lodge Park, is a volunteer with Search and Rescue Assistance In Disasters (SARAID), which immediately deployed a team of 12 to northern Pakistan the same evening.

The specially trained team will use sophisticated equipment to locate any survivors of the quake - the strongest to hit Pakistan and India in 100 years, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale. It is estimated the disaster will claim more than 40,000 lives.

Mr Wharrad's mum Rosemary said she was very proud of her son, who now lives in Evesham with his wife.

"We actually saw him on the television news when he landed at the airport," she said.

Alvechurch man Steve Webb is helping co-ordinate the SARAID mission from the UK.

The Cygnet Close resident said: "I would have gone out myself but I couldn't this time, so I am co-ordinating the mission from the UK."

The week-long mission is part of Britain's deployment to the devastated region, but has been entirely funded by SARAID. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the charity can visit the website www.saraid.co.uk

Meanwhile, the Redditch Pakistani Forum is also collecting donations towards the relief efforts. Spokesman Mohammed Amin said there were no families in Redditch affected by the quake but the forum remained concerned.

"The majority of our community are from the Rawakpindi district of Islamabad which was not badly affected by the earthquake. We have made calls around and no families in Redditch have relatives in the effected areas. However, we have already started a collection for relief efforts in the affected area," said Mr Amin.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can call Mr Jamshaid at the Easemore Road mosque.