A Labour MP yesterday spoke of his terror at experiencing the devastating earthquake in Pakistan at first hand.

Shahid Malik, MP for Dewsbury, was attending a series of faith conferences near the capital Islamabad when the disaster hit.

Mr Malik, who returned to the UK yesterday, told MPs: "I was there when the earthquake struck in Islamabad and it was a terrifying experience."

He hailed the UK response to the disaster, telling International Development Secretary Hilary Benn: "Not only do I pay tribute but the Pakistani Government has asked me to convey that to you because we were the first to get in there."

Mr Malik also hailed the "superb work" of disaster response charity Rapid UK, but added: "Sadly they were pulling out more dead bodies than survivors."

He emphasised the " desperate" need for more helicopters to get aid to remote areas.

"It's my belief that this is a ten to 15-year reconstruction programme and that we are in there for the long haul," he added.

Mr Benn replied: "I join you in paying tribute to the work of the Rapid team who I know are doing an extremely professional job."

He said that options for providing more helicopters were being considered and agreed that the commitment to reconstruction would be long term.

"We have a programme in Pakistan that has been rapidly increasing in size in recent years and I can assure you that we will pledge support together with others in the international community to help that reconstruction."

Mr Malik said he was asleep when the earthquake struck at just before 9am.

"I was in bed and all of a sudden the whole place was shaking. I mean the walls were wobbling. It was truly frightening," he said. "I thought the whole place was going to collapse."