A SEARCH and mountain rescue team has donated a coach to a water rescue team in Wales.

The Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team (SMRT) has gave the vehicle, free of charge, to the Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue team who are based in Porthmadog, North-East Wales.

The vehicle was bought by the Teesdale and Weardale SMRT with charitable donations in 2003 and was used as a central control and communication station during searches.

It also doubled as an ambulance and during it’s time with the team covered more than 50,000 miles and attended hundreds of call-outs and events.

The County Durham based team is about to announce the purchase of a new search control vehicle, hence the old vehicle becoming redundant.

A spokesman for Teesdale and Weardale SMRT said: “After much discussion and consultation it was decided to offer it free to other mountain or cave rescue teams who may be able to utilise it.

“Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team expressed an interest in having the vehicle to use as part of their water rescue unit, and so this week, two members of Aberglaslyn MRT drove from Wales to Durham to collect it.

“By now the vehicle should be in it’s new home in north Wales where we hope it will give many more years of valuable service.”