A MOUNTAIN Rescue Team is appealing for support in raising funds for a permanent base as they come to the end of their busiest year on record.

The Duddon and Furness Team has been fundraising for years for a modern and permanent base as they are currently operating out of unheated rented space located at Broughton-in-Furness.

While planning permission has been granted, land secured, and £775,000 funds raised, the rising costs have left a funding shortfall of £150,000 for the main build. 

The only team in the Lake District not to have a permanent home is seeing an increase in the number of call-outs, leaving the team needing a permanent base suitable for storing and drying kits, training under appropriate conditions and facilities for team members and occasionally relatives of casualties for deployment or recovery.

READ MORE: Mountain rescue team secure land for new base after ten years of campaigning

Martin Cooper, the team fundraising officer, said the planned base would be a 'gamechanger'
in terms of their ability to support the local community by enhancing their operational
capability, including the ability to host multi-agency incidents and to host youth training
events.

"Our very presence as a free search and rescue service enables outdoor organisations and the general public to venture onto the hills with the assurance that should things go wrong, help is at hand," concluded Martin.

The team covers the area of South West Cumbria from Ravenglass to Cartmel, two-thirds of the Westmorland & Furness area, and a third to the west of the Duddon river in Cumberland.

Duddon and Furness's team has seen 64 full-team callouts to date this year against an average of 25 in past years.

The team said that the average number of full-team call-outs has risen more recently to about 40 per year. The weekend of December 3 and 4 saw ten call-outs in response to the snow event.

To donate, visit https://www.dfmrt.org.uk/index.php/donations or contact the team through Facebook.