The Exmoor Search & Rescue Team (ESRT) relocated its headquarters yestarday from Barnstaple to its new premises on Pathfields Industrial Estate, South Molton.

The registered charity provides a search and rescue service across large parts of Devon and Somerset assisting the Police in locating lost, missing or vulnerable people and recovering the injured or ill from remote locations.

The move was made possible through a legacy donation enabling the team of unpaid volunteers to purchase a modern industrial unit back in December and fit it out to their own specialist requirements.

This was facilitated by Devon building contractors Michael Thorne Construction (MTC) who donated steel and manpower to the charity enabling the construction of a mezzanine floor for offices and a training room.  The new base also garages the team’s vehicles and stores vital rescue equipment.

Team member Andrew Ball said: “The new base is strategically located on the North Devon Link Road allowing us to mobilise quickly.  We will also greatly benefit from improving our equipment and vehicle storage and maintenance as well as enhancing our extensive training requirements in an environment customised by us for that purpose.

“Michael Thorne Construction has been great supporters of Exmoor SRT and we are very grateful to them for donating materials and expertise to make this a first class facility.”

Graham Easton, MTC Director said: “Andrew and his colleagues do a magnificent job and are trained and ready to go out in any conditions every single day of the year.  It costs over £15,000 each year to run the team and this is raised entirely by donations from the public because they receive no government funding.  We were delighted to be able to help them in their new building.

Exmoor SRT welcomes enquiries about becoming a trainee team member or team supporter to help with fundraising and those vital background activities which allow the team to fulfill its role as a police and community resource.