A search and rescue team which has helped hundreds of victims of the earthquake in Pakistan has arrived back in Oxfordshire.

The team of 10 volunteers from Oxfordshire Search and Rescue (Osar) spent two weeks travelling by foot and helicopter to take the first medical aid to villages cut off since the earthquake last month.

Treating as many as 700 people a day, the team were dealing with serious injuries including amputations, broken bones, bleeding, haemorrhages and infections.

Gary Foo, Osar commander-in-chief, said: "You just can't believe how many people you are looking after each day. We did feel we made a huge difference, but it just doesn't stop. We would really like to go back, that is for sure."

The only small, mobile unit in the area, they were dropped off by helicopters in remote, mountain areas of Pakistan before setting off on foot to villages that had been waiting a weeks for help.

Mr Foo said: "We were the first unit to go to certain areas of the Allai Valley, which were hit very hard, but because it's mountain terrain no-one could get to."

After providing the first medical treatment villagers had received, the team had to notify the United Nations and Pakistani military of their location, what they had found and what was needed.

Mr Foo added: "We saw villages of thousands of people who were struggling and we sent in extra aid, which we are very proud of."

The situation in the region is still grave, and is made worse by the continuing aftershocks and earthquakes.

Ray Goodwin, from Cholsey, was team leader and field medic but normally works as an air quality scientist at Harwell.

He said: "We were there at the acute stage. We were able to do a lot of first hand medical work which at times was fairly traumatic because you're seeing people with fairly major injuries who have been in that state for days, receiving no treatment.

"There were some fairly horrendous injuries. The hardest ones to deal with were working with the children -- we were having to treat a large number of children with fairly horrific injuries.

"The resilience of the people was impressive.

"The help they're going to need is going to go on for years and years. Just because it's no longer headline news does not mean they don't need help."

All of the 700lb of medical supplies the team took to Pakistan had been used within the fortnight, and Osar is now gathering together medication, surgical equipment and supplies ,such as tents and blankets, to take with them when they return.

To donate, send a cheque to Osar, Fawley Court, Henley, Oxfordshire, RG9 3AE. For further information, visit www.osar.org.uk