AN Evesham man is appealing for support for the survivors of the Kashmir earthquake after spending a week there as part of a rescue team.

Jonathan Wharrad, of Briar Close, worked with the charity Rapid UK where he helped rescue seven people and had the heartbreaking task of telling many more relatives that their loved ones were lost

"It was difficult when you had to break the news to relatives that we had found their loved ones dead, or to tell them there was little hope of finding them.

"When you were working, you don't really have time to think although afterwards you experienced a mixture of emotions depending on what had happened."

Mr Wharrad, aged 32, went without food and drink as he worked, considering them to be "secondary require-ments".

"We were so focussed on the job in hand we didn't think about ourselves. When you can hear someone crying out for help under a pile of rubble nothing else matters."

He is now back in Evesham but plans to go back to Pakistani Kashmir later in the year.

"The emphasis now is on getting relief to the areas and everyone here can do their bit and help by supporting charities such as Oxfam.

"While the earthquake may slip off the news pages and from the TV bulletins there is still plenty that needs to be done and there will be for a long time."

Mr Wharrad is appealing to Worcestershire companies to help Rapid UK, www.rapidsar.org, with equipment or fund-raising.

"I am hoping to set up training programmes, in the basics of search and rescue and first aid, later in the year in Pakistan and any donations would be gratefully received."