A MOUNTAIN rescue team hoping to raise £160,000 for a new base has been thrown a lifeline.

Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue announced recently that it needed to build a new vehicle base, closer to the motorway network, to help improve its response times.

But earlier in the year a bid to the lottery for cash was turned down, after it was decided the group, which covers areas including Blackburn, Burnley, the Ribble Valley and Hyndburn, did not benefit enough minority groups.

Now the group, based in Preston, is in talks with a construction firm, which has stepped forward and offered to help with the building of the facility.

It is hoped negotiations will be over shortly, and the base could be finished before the end of the year.

Paul Durham, fundraising officer for the team, said: "This is our 25th silver jubilee year and it also coincides with being nominated for the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

"We are just hoping we can get this new base up and running and the funds in to finish it within this year. That would be a fantastic goal for us."

The Preston firm, Kiernan Construction, did not want to comment.

But according to a statement on the mountain rescue team's website, the company would 'design and build' the facility.

The building would be more than three times larger than the current facility, and would include modern training facilities on an upper floor.

There would also be plenty of storage and maintenance space.

Despite the offer, the team is still appealing for more funds, and continuing with a renewed bid to the lottery, hoping changes to the application will mean they can be successful.

So far, £100,000 has been raised thanks to donations. Another £60,000 will see the funds raised to complete the building, and Bowland Pennine is now appealing for help with cash or building materials.