THE Dartmoor Rescue Group does a wonderful job of aiding search and rescue missions on the moors — and its efforts will now be aided by five Land Rovers presented to the group on Saturday.

The four rescue group teams — based in Okehampton, Tavistock, Ashburton and Plymouth — were formally presented with five Land Rovers from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service at Pork Hill on Saturday at their annual training day.

The vehicles became surplus to Fire Authority requirements and have been kindly donated as part of a closer working relationship between the two rescue services who train and work together on Dartmoor and the surrounding area on difficult and challenging incidents. 

Dartmoor Rescue Group chairman Alec Collyer said: ‘We are extremely grateful to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service in thinking about our needs as a charitable organisation and we look forward to receiving the Land Rovers and putting them to good use in the future when rescuing injured or lost people.’

The DRG was started in 1968 in the Tavistock area when a small group of local moorland enthusiasts started helping the police with search and rescue on Dartmoor. In due course a recognised official team was formed.

The group consists of its four teams, each one capable of functioning independently, plus the main original charity, which co-ordinates common training, equipment and communications issues. It is also the main contact point for organisations. Normally two teams respond to callouts leaving two as a back up in case of an extended operation.

Robert Steemson, press and media officer for the rescue group, said: ‘Joint training with other key partners is vital as each team will tend to work in its own geographical area but may need to work anywhere on Dartmoor to support other Dartmoor Search and Rescue teams.

‘Depending on the number of people who require rescuing or the area to be searched, a callout may consist of one, two or three teams and usually at least one team is kept as a back up in case of an extended operation. DRG teams also provide an essential search and rescue service across the rest of Devon and may also be used to support the Cornwall and the Exmoor Search and Rescue teams.’