A Herefordshire dentist is helping ease the terrible anguish for families desperate for news about loved ones involved in the Grenfell Tower fire.

Dr Rupert Parsons, who runs the Acacia Dental Practice, has been taking time out from his day-to-day schedule in Bromyard to join a concerted effort to identify victims of the blazing tower block in North Kensington.

As part of Britain's Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team, Dr Parsons has to be ready to respond to calls for assistance in the event of major incidents, in this country and other parts of the world. Since fire gutted the 24-storey Grenfell Tower last month, he has joined other forensic dentists working with teams of pathologists, anthropologists and police.

"We are working out of a big mortuary in London," said Dr Parsons, who has returned to the grim task this week. "The last flats are now being searched, and the last human remains brought for identification."

While the world has watched on with horror at the unfolding tragedy in London, Dr Parsons has been among those able to provide hands on help. "What does give absolute job satisfaction is when we can match human remains with antemortem dental records," he explained. "There are three forms o formal identification: DNA, fingerprints and dental records. Our primary role is to get the deceased back to their families, to put their minds at rest, and prepare them for burial."

His involvement in forensic dentistry began in 2002 when he studied for a Masters in the subject, and he went on to join the DVI team. In 2004 when the world was reeling from the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Dr Parsons was part of that massive effort.

"For six months the international DVI teams went out to Thailand in three-week stretches to help with the identification process," he explained.

More recent call-outs for the DVI team, before the Grenfell Tower disaster were an horrific crash on the M5 near Taunton in which seven people were killed and 51 injured, and the tragic Shoreham Airshow crash in 2015.

As part of the DVI team, he has received calls to carry out forensic work for coroners and police. "There are two roles in forensic dentistry, examining criminal bite marks and assisting the coroner in formally identifying the deceased, comparing antemortem and post mortem dental records," he said.

He admitted his ears "prick up" when radio or TV news gives news of a major incident, "wondering if we will be needed to help out".

Dr Parsons continued: "I don't know when it's my turn. Geographically, it's much more likely if it's an incident in my area."

He praises the understanding of his patients at Bromyard whose appointments occasionally need to be postponed due to his DVI and police work.

"We are grateful that our patients have understood the situation when their appointments have been cancelled at short notice," he said.

He also paid tribute to the practice team at Bromyard.

"I really appreciate the support that I get from the great team at Acacia Dental for ringing and postponing patients and to Dr Gill Tate too for her extra sessions to provide dental cover in my absence."

The Acacia practice was launched in 2013. "We have an all new premises and a new preventive philosophy," said Dr Parsons.