Mountain rescue team needs £200,000 for new HQ

The Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team's current headquarters doesn't have any heating

A mountain rescue team needs to raise £200,000 to build a new headquarters with central heating.

The Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team has been fundraising for almost a decade for a new base but are still short of their target.

Land has already been identified for the purpose-built base but the costs of the building are rising.

Team member Sim Leech said: "It would be great to come back to a warm building and we are the last team in the Lake District not to have a permanent, purpose-built base."

The team's current headquarters are located at Broughton-in-Furness but the building lacks heating and basic facilities.

"We are the only one out of the 10 Lake District teams, so it would be good if we could catch up with everyone else," Mr Leech said.

'Nearer £1m'

The mountain rescue team is planning to build a new base on land opposite its existing headquarters.

The team had initially been quoted £650,000 for the new site, but costs have risen since the pandemic.

Martin Cooper, a fundraising volunteer, said: "In 10 years we have raised nearly £50,000 a year.

"The problem is that before the lockdown the quote [for the building] was £650,000. We’re now talking nearer £1m."