Much of the city has been reduced to rubble

The volunteer team of eight men and their Border Collie dog Annie, arrived in Iran on Saturday morning to help with the search efforts following the powerful earthquake hit the historic city of Bam.

They are part of the British International Search and Rescue Dogs (BIRD), a north Wales organisation based in Llanfairfechan, Conwy.

Most of the eight are firefighters working for the North Wales Fire Service.

The team includes one paramedic and two dog handlers.

They will be searching for survivors in a city where an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 people died following the quake on Friday.

'Lives at risk'

Ray Jones, one of the founding members of the group, said the team flew out to Iran as soon as they heard the news.

He said: "There is the possibility of finding survivors but we had to get out there within 24 hours.

"They are putting their lives at risk and have to be very careful because there is always a possibility of aftershocks."

The team will use hydraulic cutting equipment, a telescopic camera and a chainsaw which can cut through concrete as they search the ruins.

The team rescued survivors in this year's Algerian earthquake

Mr Jones said the chances of finding survivors is fading as night time temperatures fall to below freezing.

The BIRD team's last mission was to help rescue victims trapped in the rubble of the Algerian earthquake in May.

More than 2,000 people were killed and 9,000 people injured in the disaster.

Appeal

Friday's earthquake happened at 0158 GMT.

Bam is 630 miles south-east of the capital, Tehran, and Iranian state television reported that 70% of the houses in the city have been destroyed.

Iran suffers frequent earthquakes, with small tremors happening almost daily.

The British Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal following the earthquake.

Anyone wanting to donate to the appeal can call 0207 245 1000.