THREE firefighters from East Lancashire were today saving lives in earthquake-ravaged Gujarat as people back home launched a massive aid appeal.

Andy Barnes and Mark Southworth, both based in Blackburn, and Jed Richmond, based in Burnley, travelled to Bhuj, the town at the centre of the massive quake, over the weekend.

At 8pm yesterday they pulled a 28-year-old woman out from under rubble of a stairwell in a five-storey building.

People throughout East Lancashire began raising money and donating clothes for the people affected by the disaster over the weekend as prayers were said in mosques and Christian churches.

And Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw spoke of his horror at the destruction of an area he visited with Lord Patel of Blackburn last September.

The British team, which is made up of fire and civilian personnel from across the country and has 11 firefighters in total from Lancashire, has now rescued four people.

Andy, of Oswaldtwistle; Mark, of Darwen; and Jed, of Burnley; have experience of helping after the Turkey earthquake and Mozambique floods.

Across East Lancashire, families have been playing an anxious waiting game as the death count slowly rises.

Up to 20,000 people are feared dead, according to some reports.

The Blackburn Chanda -- or relief -- Committee believes it will have thousands of pounds in the bank tonight, despite only launching an appeal on Saturday morning.

Organisers of the fund, including Blackburn's Lord Adam Patel and prominent local councillors, met on Friday and will open and open an official bank account today.

Coun Salim Mulla: "Everyone is shocked, saddened and incredibly worried fro friends and relatives at the moment.

He added: "We hope the whole community will be behind us."

Moulana Ahmed Sidat, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "We hope that, across the country, £1million can be raised to help the victims of the earthquake."

Money started pouring in on Saturday after details of the appeal were announced in Blackburn's mosques, where Muslims held special prayers for those suffering in India.

Prayers were also said in churches around East Lancashire and one local Christian charity, International Aid, has already pledged support to the Indian Embassy.

The charity's director, Bernard Cocker, said: "We are just waiting to get the nod to donate the clothes we have in store.

"This has been a terrible disaster and we will do all we can to help."

Mr Straw: "This tragedy should serve to remind us of our vulnerability when a natural disaster strikes.

"I have nothing but sympathy for the people of Gujarat.

"For me, it seems a little closer to home because I only visited the area last September and enjoyed my visit immensely."

Outside the Cumberland Street Mosque, Blackburn, worried locals spoke of their fears for their relatives in Gujarat.

Blackburn man Vali Mulla's sister, who lives in Yorkshire, was in the town of Alipard at the time visiting relatives.

Mr Mulla said: "I have tried and tried to get through. I do not know if she is OK but I do know that area has been affected.

"It is a very worrying time."

Ajam Dudha has friends and family in Surat, a place affected mainly by the aftershocks of the horrific earthquake.

He said: "My brother and sister are out there. I know there are a lot of casualties across the area, not just in the centre of the earthquake but I just can't contact them.

"All I can do is sit and wait. I have no idea how they are."

Shahabuddin Solkar, also from Blackburn, said he had friends in areas mainly affected by tremors.

He said: "Like everyone else, I can't get through. It is a tragedy and what makes it worse is that we don't know if our friends are ok."

Anyone wanting to pledge support to the Blackburn Chanda Committee can ring 01254 692289, which is the number for the Lancashire Council of Mosques.