RIBBLE Valley-based rescue service which provides vital support throughout Lancashire is launching a new campaign to raise £150,000 to improve facilities.

The Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team, situated at Dunsop Bridge in the Trough of Bowland, is hoping to raise the cash over the next 12 months.

Team member Andy Binstead said: "We are beginning a big appeal for a new vehicle base near Broughton in Preston.

"We hope to raise over £150,000 in the next year, which will provide us with a garage for our emergency vehicles and four-wheel drive ambulances, as well as space for our regular training sessions."

The rescue team covers the north, west and central areas of Lancashire, and is almost entirely funded by public donations. It is manned by volunteers available all day every day.

In total, there are 40 rescue volunteers to call on from around Lancashire and an extra 20 trainees, administrators and members of the fund-raising team.

And already the fund has been boosted by £2,000 following a one-man trek from Longridge to Yorkshire.

Bill Bainbridge, a past captain of the Longridge's gold club, raised the cash almost single handedly during his year in office.

As well as the 50-mile walk between Longridge and Hawes in Yorkshire, Bill persuaded some of his colleagues to part with their hard-earned cash during a charity auction and race night.

Bill said: "I wanted the money to go somewhere really useful in the area, and heard about and met some of the rescue team members before, so it seemed an obvious choice."

Andy Binstead added: "This is fantastic. We are totally reliant on donations from the public."

The team has been less busy than usual this year due to the foot and mouth access restrictions, but has still responded to over 30 emergencies.

The latest was assisting a police search for a missing Lancaster University student.

In 1997, the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue was given a £171,000 National Lottery grant to revamp its Dunsop Bridge premises.

The cottage acts as a base for rescuers but the organisation wanted to open its doors to school groups and the disabled.

New facilities included sleeping quarters, as well as ramps and a lift for the disabled.