BRITISH rescue workers, including some from Kent, are expected to pull out of Bam in the next 24 hours as hope fades of finding anyone else left alive in the devastated Iranian city.

The death toll continues to rise following the Boxing Day earthquake and it could reach 40,000. An estimated 50,000 people are understood to have been injured.

Seven members of Kent Fire and Rescue Service's overseas search and rescue team flew out from Stansted Airport within hours of the disaster. The experienced Kent team joined colleagues from Hampshire and Essex in a mission organised by the Overseas Development Agency.

Their last mission to an earthquake was when they travelled to Turkey in 1998.

Team members include team leader, assistant divisional officer Neil Hubbard, assistant divisional officer Keith Burns; firefighter Dean Langley, sub officer John Mazzey, sub officer Dave Hudson, leading firefighter Ian Selfe and firefighter Matt Ivell.

All have previous experience of the human tragedy caused by such disasters and regularly train to ensure they are ready when the call comes.

As well as technical search and light-weight rescue equipment, such as snake-eye cameras and listening devices, the team took tents and other supplies.

Neil Hubbard spoke to KM-fm about the operation...