A MOUNTAIN rescue team needs rescuing itself -- from a cash crisis. Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team is facing a difficult couple of years after spending £60,000 in 2005 on two essential new vehicles.

This has left the charity, which is on call 365 days a year to assist emergency services or rescue people stranded on moors, in desperate need of cash.

Treasurer Helen Ellis added: "When we raise funds for the team in any given year that money is saved to cover the team's running costs for the following year.

"Anything left over is put into a fund for big items like vehicles or major repairs to our base.

"The new vehicles cost in the region of £60,000 by the time we'd kitted them out so, while we've got enough to cover operational expenses in 2006, it's left us with almost nothing in the bank for any future capital expenditure -- and, of course, we now need to raise our operational costs for 2007 which are predicted at about £25,000."

In addition the team has outgrown its base in Clegg Street, Haslingden, and is looking to raise £500,000 for a new HQ.

Deputy team leader, Andy Simpson, said: "We have been trying to find an alternative base for some time because we only have two garages for four vehicles and there isn't enough parking space for all members when we train.

"The members do a lot of fundraising as well as operational duties so desperately need volunteers to help with all aspects of fundraising."

The 40 volunteers attended more than 80 call-outs last year, taking around 2,000 man hours.

During 2005 the team helped police by rescuing two boys stranded on moors above Colne and the year before they were one of the first emergency services on the scene of a light aircraft crash in Laneshawbridge.

Today, Lancashire police search co-ordinator Insp Neil Sherry said the team was "essential" for finding missing people and paid tribute to the volunteers' selflessness.

He added: "They are an invaluable resource.If they weren't there we would have to use more police resources and that would have a knock on effect.

"If we're searching for a person, we can't be doing other jobs."