Rescue team's new base at South Molton

THE Exmoor Search & Rescue Team (SRT) has relocated from its Barnstaple base to new headquarters on the Pathfields Business Park at South Molton. The registered charity provides a search and rescue service across large parts of Devon and Somerset assisti

THE Exmoor Search & Rescue Team (SRT) has relocated from its Barnstaple base to new headquarters on the Pathfields Business Park at South Molton.

The registered charity provides a search and rescue service across large parts of Devon and Somerset assisting the police in locating lost, missing or vulnerable people and recovering the injured or ill from remote locations.

The move was made possible through a legacy donation enabling the team of 27 unpaid volunteers to purchase a modern industrial unit and fit it out to their own specialist requirements.

Devon building contractors Michael Thorne Construction (MTC) donated steel and manpower to the charity enabling the construction of a mezzanine floor for offices and a training room. The new base will also garage the team's vehicles and store rescue equipment.

Team member Andrew Ball said: "The new base is strategically located on the North Devon Link Road allowing us to mobilise quickly. We will also greatly benefit from improving our equipment and vehicle storage and maintenance as well enhancing our extensive training requirements in an environment customised by us for that purpose.

"Michael Thorne Construction has been a great supporter of Exmoor SRT and we are very grateful to them for donating materials and expertise to make this a first class facility."

Graham Easton, MTC Director said: "Andrew and his colleagues do a magnificent job and are trained and ready to go out in any conditions every single day of the year. It costs over �15,000 each year to run the team and this is raised entirely by donations from the public because they receive no government funding. We were delighted to be able to help them in their new building."

Exmoor SRT welcomes enquiries about becoming a trainee team member or team supporter to help with fundraising and those vital background activities which allow the team to fulfill its role as a police and community resource.

Anyone interested in learning more or making a donation can visit www.exmoor-srt.org.uk