BOLTON Mountain Rescue are searching for volunteers to join their team.

The organisation is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and covers a 800 square kilometre area stretching from Darwen in the north, to Manchester Airport in the south, Wigan to the west and the centre of Manchester to the east.

The team currently has 45 operational call out list members and they are looking to take on around ten more.

Most of their work is on the moors, helping mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers.

However they also search for vulnerable people who may be lost.

Team leader Steven Fletcher explained the qualities he is looking for in prospective volunteers.

He said: "We're looking for people who can give up a lot of time, sometimes unplanned.

"People who've got experience of working in the outdoors are desirable - walking, navigating, things like that.

"We have people from all walks and all ages from every corner of the community," he added.

"There's no standard fit, we've got people from the ambulance service, people who are retired, people who work in IT."

The trainee period is 12 months long and in that time volunteers will be required to attend several events, including: a two day induction on March 2 and 3, an overnight residential mid-assessment on September 28 and 29, and a full weekend residential final assessment between March 20 and 22.

To apply, visit www.boltonmrt.org.uk/about-us/membership/join-us.