MOUNTAIN rescue experts have been drafted in to help ambulance crews in December because the festive period is expected to be so busy.

Bolton Mountain Rescue Team's four Land Rovers, which are fitted with flashing blue lights, will respond to 999 calls around town.

Paul Bailey, emergency planning manager for Greater Manchester Ambulance Service (GMAS), said paramedics needed help during their busiest time of the year - when it is difficult to cope with the fall-out from booze-fuelled incidents.

For ten years, the mountain rescue team has helped over the New Year period, but never before at Christmas. This year it will be called upon for the first time on December 23 and 24.

Mr Bailey said: "We value the support the Mountain Rescue Team provides us with every year in Bolton. The Christmas and New Year period is inevitably the busiest time of the year for our emergency crews, and we appreciate the extra resource the Mountain Rescue Team provides us with during this period.

"GMAS has worked closely with the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team over a number of years, and have provided them with equipment and training.

"The team's vehicles are fitted with GMAS radios to aid communications.

"The relationship is a great example of two emergency responders working together effectively for the benefit of the local community."

Tony McNally, mountain rescue team chairman, said: "The ambulance service's resources are stretched, but they are anticipating demand and have to have a plan in place.

"The sheer volume of calls they get is very high, something like 900 in a 12 -hour period. In a perfect situation we would just be on standby, but it's not working like that."

The mountain rescue team is made up of 41 volunteers, and has already had one of its busiest ever years.

Mr McNally said: "If it is a very busy period and if we are needed for mountain rescue, we will have to prioritise.

"But were are only needed for about 18 hours in a day, and hill walkers aren't usually out at night.

"Our volunteers are trained in first aid, but it will be unlikely that we'll be responding to very serious cases.

"It's usually when people have injured themselves falling over in the street."