Wasdale mountain rescuer honoured for 40 years volunteering

Penny Kirby has been a member of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team for 40 years

A volunteer who has spent 40 years helping people on England's highest mountain has received an award.

Penny Kirby received the Prime Minister's Points of Light award in recognition of her volunteering.

Her experiences for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team have included finding hikers lost on Scafell Pike and searching for people in the wake of the Lockerbie bombing.

Ms Kirby, who trains search dogs, said she was "humbled and honoured".

She is one four team leaders of the Wasdale team and received the award to mark Mountain Rescue Awareness Day.

Her award citation said: "As well as Penny's extensive knowledge of the local area and pathways, she is well known for her kindness and expertise by those that she rescues, as well as the wider community."

She said she was accepting the award on behalf of all the mountain rescue volunteers, adding: "I hope that in doing so it will help to recognise them too, and that it validates and encourages us all in what we do."