THE rescue unit formed in response to the tragedy two years ago when a father and son lost their lives had its first call out to the cockling disaster.

Eleven volunteers from Ulverston Inshore Rescue were roused at 3am on Friday to help out.

The unit was founded following the drowning of Dalton father Stewart Rushton and his nine-year-old son Adam off Bardsea beach on January 5, 2002.

Station leader Bruce Chattaway said the crew had demonstrated why it was important to have an Ulverston-based outfit.

"It's more manpower. These lads are trained, they know the waters and the area like the back of their hands. It takes the pressure off Walney coastguard which has 122 miles of shore line to watch."

With powerful torches, the volunteers worked through the night looking for cocklers who could have drifted up the bay.

They did not find anyone but their efforts supported the work of the already-stretched coastguard services.

In the two years since the Rushton tragedy, Ulverston Inshore Rescue has gathered £53,000 in donations to pay for crew training, equipment and a new base at Glaxo.

Ulverston town councillor Stan Lewis, who has worked alongside other volunteers to raise funds for the group, said: "I'm highly delighted that we were well-equipped enough and advanced enough in our training to at least be able to do something."