Expanded Maryport Rescue base 'will save lives', says charity

Operations manager Mike Messenger said expanding the base would cut emergency call-out response times

A lifeboat charity which is fundraising to expand its base said a revamp would help save lives.

Maryport Rescue, which carries out search and rescue and flood emergency call-outs, currently has to keep its kit in two buildings.

Operations manager, Mike Messenger, said travelling between the two added 20 minutes to response times.

The charity was awarded £60,000 lottery money, but needs to raise a further £140,000 to extend its base.

The team of 35 volunteers currently operates out of two separate buildings in the town's harbour, covering inshore and offshore emergencies.

Members work closely with the RNLI, the Coastguard and other emergency services including mountain rescue teams.

An artist's impression of the expanded Maryport Rescue's base

Mr Messenger said: "The current risk is significant in terms of delayed response times, up to 20 minutes when we have to travel to the other storage facility to collect vehicles and equipment.

"If a person is in cold water for 20 minutes, that's a long time this time of the year.

"It can be frustrating trying to get teams away to incidents when you are trying to operate from two places at once. If everything was in the one place it would be easy to organise.

"Cutting response times by 20 minutes will save lives."

Maryport Rescue has been running for 45 years and provides 24-hour land and sea rescue services.

After initially focusing on lifeboat services, the crew trained in flood and swift water rescue just before the Cockermouth flooding in 2009.

The £60,000 was awarded by the Postcode Neighbourhood Trust.