The dale’s fell rescue team had a record number of call-outs during 2025.
In his annual report, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team leader John Little said they were called out 70 times during the year.
These included to assist, among others, the police, North East Ambulance Service, Great North Air Ambulance Service and the Coastguard.
Figures show that the highest number of incidents, some 36 per cent, was to assist the ambulance service, followed by searches for vulnerable people which made up 24 per cent of the figure.
About 13 per cent involved water searches, and 12 per cent involved injured walkers.
Missing fell runners and mountain bike injuries made up seven per cent each of call-outs.
He added that the team has been boosted with new recruits, and existing members are getting additional training, extending areas where they can be deployed.
Mr Little said: “We’ll have four new hill team members in the near future. Our latest recruitment round has started well and we have lots of very strong applicants to choose from.
“We have brought about half the hill team up to a standard where they can complete in-water searches and have purchased the necessary equipment for them to do so. This will greatly enhance the searching we can do in the wet areas of the county.
“A number of team members have completed off-road and blue light driver training.”
Some of the winter training, and water training, was carried out in Scotland.
Another positive for the team was receiving recognition of the work through the High Sheriff of County Durham Award.
It also received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The team leader revealed that work towards becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) was currently underway.
He added: “This has not been a simple process and a number of team members have put in a significant amount of work to progress this.”
Mr Little said there had been challenges with equipment, vehicles and finances over the year, these “are in good order”.
Work is currently being undertaken to develop a vehicle replacement strategy and documenting risks the team faces and the associated mitigations.
