A NORTH-East mountain rescue team is holding a recruitment drive.

Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team is looking for volunteers to join the mountain rescue team.

The team covers County Durham and parts of the Pennines, including Cross Fell, the highest point in the Pennines.

The rescuers are all volunteers and attend, on average, 35 call-outs per year.

Some of the call-outs last only a couple of hours, while others cover a number of days.

However, because of work or other commitments, members are not expected to attend every call-out.

Team spokesman Steve Owers said: "We are hoping to recruit keen walkers or climbers who are reasonably fit and have basic hill skills such as being able to read a map and take bearings.

"Because a majority of our calls are now to non-mountain areas, we want men or women who would be prepared to attend the type of call-out which entails cancelling a Saturday night out to search for a vulnerable teenager around the outskirts of Darlington."

An open evening is being held at the team's rescue centre which is behind the police station at Harmire Road, in Barnard Castle, on Wednesday, February 9, at 7.30pm.

Anyone interested in joining the team can visit the centre on the night, or call (01388) 601218 for more details.