BRAVE volunteers who risk their lives to help rescue vulnerable people have been spreading the word about their valuable work.

Cheshire Search and Rescue Team was formed in 2004 following the disappearance of a teenage girl in the county.

They began as a group of community spirited individuals with little more than high visibility jackets and torches, but today, the team takes pride in being well respected by all the emergency services. 

They are on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and while their main job is helping Cheshire Police search for vulnerable missing people, they also responds to floods, help the police with evidence searches, and support the other emergency service, at any time, and in any weather.

Volunteers are extremely well trained, well equipped, and totally committed to making an invaluable contribution to the people of Cheshire and beyond.

Cheshire Search and Rescue volunteer, Andrew Ross, who is also head teacher at Rudheath Primary Academy, visited Cheshire West Rotary on Tuesday, March 26, where he explained the group’s work to members.

He said: “As a lowland rescue team, our primary function is to assist Cheshire Police with searches for vulnerable missing people.

“But the team also has capability for flood response, evidence searching, and assisting other emergency services as the need arises.

“We cover all of Cheshire with its varied terrain of rural land, towns and cities, moorland, forest, and some very steep ground.

“This means members must be prepared to tackle areas far different to the Cheshire Plain.

“Cheshire also boasts more miles of waterways than most UK counties, so in recent years we have advanced our water-based search capability significantly.

“Outside of our own geographical boundaries, we regularly work alongside neighbouring mountain and lowland rescue teams.”

Andrew’s talk to Cheshire West Rotary was part of the club’s guest speaker series, which takes place at their meetings on Tuesday evenings at the Spinner and Bergamot pub in Comberbach.

Club president, Gwen Jackson, said: “Thank goodness we have these volunteers available to get called out any time of the day or night, in all wind and weathers, for hours or even days at a time.

“All with the aim to help find people, rescue them and deliver them to the 999 services or their families.

“Sadly, it’s not always the result they hope for, but it’s essential for the families.”

If you'd like to learn more about joining the team at Cheshire Search and Rescue, visit their website. 

Cheshire West Rotary meets at 7.00pm for 7.30pm on Tuesdays at the Spinner and Bergamot pub, Warrington Road, Comberbach, Northwich, CW9 6AY.