'Nomadic' Derby Mountain Rescue team to have new base as work under way

Team Leader Martin Cavill and Derbyshire's chief constable Rachel Swann (with spades) and members of the team attended the ceremony

Work has begun on a permanent base for Derby's Mountain Rescue Team.

For more than 25 years, the group has looked to move from a rented garage which has become too small for its storage and training needs.

It bought a piece of land just off the A52 outside Mackworth in 2014, but it has taken 10 years to get permissions and funding in place.

This week the first foundation trenches have been dug and building work is expected to be completed by the summer.

Much of the machinery and equipment has been loaned by local businesses

A ceremony was attended by representatives from the organisation as well as Derbyshire's chief constable Rachel Swann.

Team leader Martin Cavill said: "The team is 60 years old this year, and I think in that 60 years we've been quite nomadic, trying to find places to train, keep our vehicles, look after our equipment, and we've always dreamt of having somewhere we can call our home, somewhere we could build a base.

"Ten years after we bought this land, after a lot of fundraising and a lot of effort on behalf of a lot of people, we've got to this point where we can start the build which is obviously a momentous occasion."

Ms Swann said: "It is my absolute privilege and pleasure to come here to commemorate this occasion, we have a really strong, good working relationship with you in Derby Mountain Rescue.

"Keeping those people safe in the county, who live here, who work here, who come and visit, requires a really strong partnership effort."

More than £400,000 has been raised towards the project which will give the team more vehicle and training space and a base to run larger operations.

While the building work is fully-funded, the fitting out process is likely to proceed as donations come in, a spokesman said.