When an earthquake devastated parts of South Asia 12 months ago, people across Oxfordshire rallied round and raised thousands of pounds to help those left injured and homeless.

But a year on, those who led the fundraising efforts say they are frustrated that an estimated 1.8m people face a second bleak winter without shelter.

The earthquake, which measured 7.5 on the Richter scale, ripped apart large areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on October 8 last year. A total of 75,000 people peole were killed.

In the aftermath, the need was for medical supplies and skilled doctors and nurses to help the tens of thousands of injured people in remote areas of the country.

Gary Foo, from Oxfordshire Search and Rescue (Osar), based in Henley, headed to Pakistan with a team which included doctors, nurses, paramedics and rescue specialists to help people in the most remote regions.

Oxford Mail readers helped to raise £10,000 in just a few days to send the team out there with medical equipment.

Mr Foo says he was honoured to have been called upon to help, but the scenes he saw were horrendous.

He added: "It is very sad to see so many people facing the possibility of being homeless again this winter - and we are on standby at all times to go back out there if needed."

His views were shared by Salman Khan, of Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, who raised £50,000 to build more than 300 corrugated iron shelters for people made homeless.

He said: "Oxfam gave a critical statement recently on the effort, saying that 1.8 million people are still facing problems with shelter this winter. Things are not good. The army has decided to monopolise all the decision making and it is heavily bureaucratic and not efficient.

"It is very frustrating. But I am thankful that the money I managed to collect has been used well because I have been able to control how the money is spent."

Mr Khan has now raised a further £50,000 which he is using to build a school in Balakot, in the North West Frontier Province of Kashmir, but he says he has been unable to start work because of bureaucracy.

He added: "I have the money and bought the land, but we have been waiting for the Government to give the green light on the building for months and months. It is so infuriating."

Abdul Qadeer, 37, who works at Tahmid Stores in Cowley Road, lost his uncle, aunt and 12 cousins in the quake.

After shoppers and friends donated more that £1,900, Mr Qadeer flew out to the village of Mongbajir in Kashmir, to do what he could to help.

A year on, he said: "People are making new homes but slowly. My wife and children and my parents are still there and they say it's OK - they are rebuilding what they had piece by piece.

"But there is still a lot that needs to be done."