A PLANE carrying aid following the earthquake believed to have killed more than 7,000 people has flown out from RAF Brize Norton.

Eighteen people died on Mount Everest after an avalanche swept through its Base Camp, and more climbers are stranded higher up the mountain.

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Britain has sent a team of Gurkha engineers to help with the disaster relief effort.

The 15 soldiers left RAF Brize Norton late last night aboard an RAF C-17 transport aircraft packed with vital emergency supplies, including more than 1,100 shelter kits and more than 1,700 solar lanterns.

There was 30 tonnes on board the aircraft including tents, ropes and solar-powered rescue equipment.

About the same time a small advance party of UK search and rescue teams - along with search dogs - arrived in Nepal's stricken capital, Kathmandu.

The Government yesterday increased its pledge of financial aid, with International Development Secretary Justine Greening promising funds to match the first £5m made in public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Earthquake Appeal.

The DEC will make a televised appeal for public donations today, launched across all the major broadcasters and fronted by Absolutely Fabulous Star and Gurkha campaigner Joanna Lumley.

The UK has pledged a £5m package of support, including £3m released under the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) to address immediate needs on the ground and £2m to the British Red Cross.

Ms Greening said: "A swift and effective UK response to the Nepal earthquake means help is already reaching all those affected by this terrible disaster.

“But as the devastating scale of the crisis becomes clearer, we are stepping up our efforts."

The Foreign Office said it had not received reports of any Britons being killed or injured but embassy staff have assisted 200 people.

Towns and villages across Nepal have been flattened, and communications problems in the worst-affected areas have left families and friends around the world anxiously awaiting news of loved ones.

The 7.8-magnitude quake struck just before midday on Saturday, sending tremors through the Kathmandu Valley and the nearby city of Pokhara.