THE Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team is appealing for help to raise £35,000 for a new ambulance.

The team is looking to replace it's existing Land Rover Discovery vehicle which is due to be retired next year.

Members of the team are also hoping to raise enough money to buy new radios, emergency lights and sirens, mountain rescue livery and install a safety roll cage.

In a separate funding bid the team is also aiming to raise £3,000 for alterations of its mobile search management vehicle.

Gordon Hogge, fund raising offer for the team, said: "Our current front-line mountain rescue 4x4 ambulance will need to be replaced in 2016.

"The project includes a new long wheel based Land Rover Defender, radios, emergency lights and sirens, mountain rescue livery and the installation of a safety roll cage.

"In order to get this project under way Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team has allocated £1,000 of existing funds towards this replacement mountain rescue Land Rover Ambulance and request that interested parties match or donate in part in our efforts to raise much-needed funding.

"The team is reliant on the generosity of the general public and community groups within Lancashire and beyond in order to continue to operate and support our partners whether it is searching for venerable missing people, injured walkers, and mountain bikers or searching river banks.

"The team would be delighted with any help."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "I would encourage the good people of Lancashire to dip into their pockets to support this funding drive.

"People are very generous in this area and regularly donate to other fantastic groups such as the North West Air Ambulance.

"The mountain rescue team is absolutely vital and we must do everything we can to keep them in full operation.

"As they are a charity I would encourage them to send an application form to the Duchy of Lancaster for funding which could make all the difference.

"This is a team that saves lives and I hope that they are able to raise the money that they need."

Items needed for the update of the mobile search management vehicle, which is more than 10 years old, include computer monitors, iPads and minor alterations such as re-touting cables.

The team is responsible for the majority of Lancashire from the boarders of Cumbria, Yorkshire and to the south of the West Pennine Moors.

It attends an average of 60 call outs a year which includes searching for walkers and vulnerable people.