VOLUNTEERS from two mountain rescue teams were raising awareness about the mental health of workers in the emergency services.

Cleveland Mountain Rescue met colleagues from Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue team at the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge, on the North York Moors, to take part in the national blue light torch relay.

From the Lion Inn the Cleveland volunteers took the torch by mountain bike to the top of Roseberry Topping, where it was handed over to members of Cleveland Police.

The event has seen the blue light torch travel around the country since April in the hands of various emergency services. Some of the organisations are professional such as the fire brigade, police and ambulance services and some voluntary such as the lifeboats, coastguards and mountain rescue teams.

A Cleveland Mountain Rescue team spokesman said: “Emergency services personnel have a much greater risk of suffering mental health issues caused by their jobs. They are the ones who, on a daily basis, deal with the traumas that may affect members of the public once in their lifetimes.”

By publicising the mental health issues suffered by "Blue Light" workers it is hoped to reduce bring mental health issues out into the open and reduce the stigma attached to it.