Rossendale mountain rescue team in search for missing April (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rossendale mountain rescue team in search for missing April

2:00pm Monday 8th October 2012 in News By Chris Adams

A mountain rescue search team from East Lancashire was among those in Wales searching for missing five-year-old April Jones.

Eight members of Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team have been in the town of Machynlleth since Saturday morning.

They were among the 70 search teams being deployed in the area to search for clues over April’s disappearance last Monday.

Last night it was announced that mountain rescue searches were being stopped.

Team leader Peter Goble was one of those in Machynlleth over the weekend.

Volunteers have been scouring fields, woodland and shallow rivers on the outskirts of the town for up to 12 hours a day.

Mr Goble said: “Once the (Dyfed-Powys) police force called in their local mountain rescue team I think they realised how helpful we could be. We have been tasked by the police search managers to cover three or four areas a day, then report back and tell them how thoroughly we think we have covered those areas. There is a strange mood in the town — a very sombre mood mixed with one that is upbeat and everyone trying to keep each others spirits up.”

Many of the volunteers were sleeping on the floor of homes made available by people in the town.

Mr Goble praised the welcome given to search teams by the people of Machynlleth.

He said: “They have been unbelievable. They are constantly bringing food and supplies to the volunteers.

“I can’t say enough about them. They have been turning up offering beds for our guys.”

The members of the Rossendale and Pendle crew in mid-Wales were; Ron Williams, Paul King, Mark Wakeman, Victoria Wakeman, James Steele, Steve Garafello and specially-trained dog, Finn.

On Friday, Mark Bridger, 46, was charged with April’s murder. He was also charged with child abduction and perverting the course of justice.