FIREFIGHTERS returned home to a hero's welcome this week after working round the clock to help rescue people trapped under rubble after the horrific Indian earthquake.

Divisional commander Peter Halleron from Preston described the devastation as "complete chaos" and said it was unlike anything he had witnessed before.

On Sunday evening (February 11) members of the rescue crew will attend a special service at the Gujarat Hindu Society, in Avenham Place, Preston, where they will be honoured for their brave efforts during the crisis.

Mr Halleron said: "We landed in Bhuj on the Sunday and got to work almost straight away because this was the area most affected by the earthquake.

"During the five day period all the lads worked really hard and pulled together as a team to rescue six live casualties including a 28-year-old woman.

"They all worked well in difficult conditions and the scale of the disaster was enormous. "If you can imagine if an earthquake happened in Birmingham and it affected an area the size of the UK, then that was the scale of the disaster."

A 69-strong team of firefighters joined the overseas rescue mission following the earthquake two weeks ago including six from the Preston and Leyland areas.

Among the firefighters to take part in the Indian rescue were sub officer Andy Wilkinson, from Preston and based at the Training Centre in Chorley and firefighters Andy Hayes and Mark Noblet, both from Preston.

As well as Mr Halleron, Leyland firefighters Steve Harman, based at Preston and John Gallagher, based at Bamber Bridge also joined the team.