Two mountain rescue teams have joined forces to bring a more effective service to south-west Cumbria.

The official launch of the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team took place on Saturday 19 April with an open day at its base on the outskirts of Broughton in Furness. The launch is part of a week-long calendar of events in this year's Cumbrian Mountain Festival and which included a well-attended illustrated talk at Ulverston's Coronation Hall by Mick Tighe, the well known mountain guide. Saturday's activities included public access to a climbing wall and to the interior of an RAF search and rescue helicopter which flew in from Boulmer.

Formed in January this year from a merger of the Millom and Furness rescue teams, the new team covers an area from the Furness peninsula to the Duddon Valley and Black Combe on the coastal fells.

The team comprises 40 highly trained volunteers who make themselves available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

It provides casualty care and evacuation from the fells, rescues for injured climbers from crags and rescues from quarries and mines. The team also assists the police and medical services in search and rescue operations not only for the many visitors to the area who get into difficulty, but also for members of the local community who take the lion's share of the 30 rescues each year.

Emphasising this local community aspect of the team's activities, team leader Peter Jackson said; "The new team aims to improve both its service and efficiency for the people of south-west Cumbria and is very appreciative of their funding support which is the mainstay of the team's continuing activities."

The team welcomes further donations and can be contacted at treasurer@dfmrt.org.uk or on 01229 716952

April 23, 2003 09:00