£1m in Government funding to rescue teams in Cumbria

Volunteer mountain rescue teams in Cumbria and the north-west will benefit from £1m in Government funding to buy life-saving equipment.

The Rescue Boat Grant Fund was launched by the Department of Transport in 2014, and was designed to provide £5m over five years to search-and-rescue teams.

There have been 201 successful bids in the past four years, which has helped 98 search-and-rescue charities, and has helped buy 65 new boats and provide support to rescue teams.

This year’s funding will allow for 15 new boats and a hovercraft.

Mountain rescue teams in Patterdale and Penrith and Maryport Inshore Rescue Boat are among those who will get new equipment.

Penrith Mountain Rescue Team will receive £7,000, Maryport £30,000 and Patterdale £4,000.