THE family of a man who died while walking from Gisburn to Barnoldswick, has donated £800 to the rescue teams that helped find him.

John Rayton, 70, from Preston, went missing on November 15 last year.

When he did not come home, the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team joined up with the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team and other search and rescue groups from across the North West.

His body was found five days later near Rimington.

Mr Rayton’s family and friends collected donations in lieu of flowers, raising £800 which was shared between Rossendale Pennine Mountain Rescue, Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue and Bolton Mountain Rescue.

His daughter Janette Rayton said: “It was the least we could do with how much mountain rescue teams did to try to find my dad.”

Pete Goble, team leader of RPMRT, said: "The team relies on donations in order to function on a day to day basis.

“We would like to thank the family for this generous donation."

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team is a charity made up entirely of volunteers.

The team is called out via the 999 system and carries out search and rescue duties over 350 square.