STAFF from a North-East university have been helping the people of Pakistan to recover from last year's devastating earthquake by sharing their expertise.

The quake killed thousands of people and the team from the University of Teesside joined an international aid effort to take part in a project in Kashmir, in north-eastern Pakistan.

They were contacted by Mohammed Riaz, from Stockton, who has connections with a charity set up to rebuild the devastated region.

It has already contributed £50,000 towards the reconstruction scheme and paid for a medical team to visit the region shortly after the disaster.

Dr Steve Bloomer, the university's subject group leader for construction, and David Kitchen, of David Kitchen Associates, Stockton, who is also a part-time lecturer at the university, offered free expertise.

The pair were asked to advise on the rebuilding of a small village, Panyatta, with 34 houses, a school and a mosque.

They were also asked to explore the possibility of building a limb fitting centre and a training centre for builders in the nearby village of Arja.

The pair visited the region for eight days in January, working 12-hour days.

They looked at collapsed buildings, examined construction methods and met with builders, contractors, architects, engineers and village elders.

The duo recommended that building should take place in Arja rather than Panyatta due to problems with ground conditions.

Dr Bloomer, 46, from Washington, said: "We were honoured to be asked to help, it's not just about constructing shelters, it's doing something more permanent.

"When something like that happens and you're given the opportunity to help people in a fix, you're more than happy to do so.

"There were fundamental flaws with the collapsed buildings, such as wooden roofs with heavy soil on top.

"We are proposing low-tech design solutions, such as new roof system made from corrugated sheet.

"Our designs aim for sustainability and are going to be submitted for approval by the government and are likely to be used for them in other areas of Pakistan which have been affected by the earthquake."

The duo will return to Pakistan in early summer, to help set up the project.

They are hoping to go back for a week every year to deliver training for local construction workers.