Lancashire firefighters have returned from Morocco after a devastating earthquake killed thousands of people.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue personnel, including crew managers Wayne Ward, Lindsay Sielski and Ian McGee, firefighter Rick Cutler and search dog Davey B, were sent to the country on September 10.

Crews returned on September 20.

Wayne Ward, a watch manager from Preston and Lancashire International Search and Rescue (ISAR) team leader, described the horrors that crews saw.

He said the team faced difficult conditions, road blockings, and aftershocks.

He said: “UKISAR deployed to Morocco as a UN classified search and rescue team with 62 personnel, four dogs, a vet, a structural engineers and medical team to support rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake.

“UKISAR conducted search and rescue operations in the Atlas Mountain range from our base of operations Amizmiz.

“The team were faced with difficult conditions, road blockings, and aftershocks which made the search and rescue operations challenging.

“Many villages were damaged in the earthquake leaving the survivors without food and water.”

The crews were able to get to remote villages, clearing road blocks and providing medical assistance.

He said: “The team were able to get to remote villages, help clear blocked roads to gain access to these villages, carry out searches and provide medical assistance to the injured.

“We found the Moroccan people to be extremely resilient and welcoming of our help in such a difficult time which was very humbling.”

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco on Friday, September 8, stretching from the High Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakesh.

The earthquake left a trail of destruction, killing more than 2,900 people and affecting more than 300,000 people across Morocco.

It destroyed buildings and left survivors homeless and in urgent need of shelter, food and clothing, with many living high up in the mountains cut off from aid.

It destroyed buildings and left survivors homeless and in urgent need of shelter, food and clothing, with many living high up in the mountains cut off from aid.

Blackburn charity Benefit Mankind also provided aid in the country recently.

Benefit Mankind delivered blankets, mattresses, food aid, hygiene kits and other essential items to the affected areas, offering comfort and support to those facing the aftermath of the disaster.