DRINKERS have been raising a glass to Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team and raising vital funds for the charity in the process.

The King’s Head Inn at Newton under Roseberry created a special brew ‘Thirst Aid’ and donated 5p from every pint sold to the rescue team.

Since the ale was launched in 2016, an impressive 5,000 pints have been sold and the money has helped the rescue team at a time when they have made their biggest investment to rebuild their outdated base.

Ken Dunbar of the rescue team said: “The money raised by The King’s Head Inn is very timely and very thankfully received and could not have come at a more critical time for us.”

Team members were recently kept very busy in supporting local district nurses reach snowbound patients when the Beast from the East struck.

The King’s Head has had a long association with the team and its general manager Chris Moor said: “We wanted to do our bit to support a local charity that provides a real lifeline in the local community.”