Search and rescue charity appeals for cash

The charity operates in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

A charity which helps people in danger in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire has appealed for money to help fund night-time river patrols.

West Mercia Search and Rescue operates across the three counties, assisting in searches for missing people, floods rescues, water rescues, and cares for people whose lives are in danger.

Volunteers begin to patrol the riverbanks in Shrewsbury during the Christmas and festive party season as part of their Home and Dry initiative.

"We have a number of teams walking around, speaking to people who are going closer to the water," said volunteer Steve Arnold.

"There's no direct intervention, it's all about making sure people are aware that the water is a dangerous place to get near to.

"[We're] reducing the incidents of people just approaching the water, because people don't realise how dangerous the water's edge can be... or if you're a bit intoxicated you could actually probably overbalance and fall in the water accidentally."

The team is looking for business sponsors to help cover costs of things like equipment and training - which the people who conduct the patrols need.

"We're a charity that's staffed 100% by volunteers, so in the summer we're doing quiz nights, charity walks, standing outside supermarkets to raise money to make sure we can afford the specialist equipment, the petrol, the insurance, the training so we can do these patrols," he said.

He added that the winter months are a high-risk time "in regards to young adults accidentally falling in the water", and said there were very few places to get out of the River Severn in Shrewsbury if someone fell in.

Training is a huge cost to the charity, he told the BBC: "They're not just trained in bank searching with their specialist equipment... we also have people trained as swift water rescue technicians, so these people are actually jumping in the water in dry suits, to equip them... it costs about £1,500 in equipment."