A Horsforth paramedic has returned from earthquake-stricken Iran after failing to find any signs of life in the search for survivors.

The 36-year-old was forced to admit defeat after returning home from the international rescue in the destroyed ancient city of Bam.

Giles Eagin touched down at Manchester Airport, where he was met by his girl friend, after the five-day operation failed to unearth anyone alive from the city. He was part of a 15-strong British team from the International Rescue Corps charity that flew out following last Friday's earthquake.

Mr Eagin, who has worked for West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (WYMAS) for five years, said: "I feel a little tired, but I am okay.

"There was a lot of crying and grieving out there but you just get on with it.

"We received a lot of training beforehand, but nothing can prepare you for the emotional things you see and feel.

"You only have time to reflect on that when you get back."

Iranian president Mohammed Khatami said the death toll was expected to top 30,000 - roughly a third of the population in the south-eastern city of Bam.

Aid workers shifted their focus from searching for survivors to treating the injured and homeless - and burying the corpses still being extracted from the disaster left by the quake.

Mr Eagin said: "Bam was an area of quite significant devastation with extensive damage.

"There were no survivors pulled from the rubble by the British team. You can only do the best you can.

"The Iranian people were very friendly and hospitable and they wanted us there. They did a marvellous job in doing as much as they could they got some help from the outside and the Iranian authorities did a wonderful job of clearing the people who were deceased.

"There were not the scenes of carnage that are often painted because they had done a lot of the clearance work before we arrived."

He said a large proportion of the town had been razed to the ground.

Mr Eagin's team suffered transport problems trying to get to the city, which is 1,000 km south east of Tehran, but he praised the British and Iranian authorities for scrambling resources so quickly.

"The Department for International Development and the Iranian authorities did a great job in getting us out there. It took just 30 hours from the call out to getting us where we were needed."

The earthquake struck before sunrise, trapping thousands of sleeping people in their homes.

The city's mud-brick houses, built without supporting metal or wooden beams, crumbled into small chunks or powdery dust.

Mr Eagin said: "There were lots of people huddled around fires in the streets. It was heartbreaking and you come back with a real sense of gratitude for what you have at home.

"The people from that area are relatively poor, but they still had a smile for us when we turned up and they thanked us in the little English they had.

"Even though we did not pull out anyone alive, they were grateful for our help. It was humbling."