A RESCUE team member has told how it saved a frightened 56-year-old woman lost late at night in a County Durham village.

The Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue team spent five hours searching for the Alzheimer's disease patient in Langley Park, near Durham City, last Thursday.

The 15-strong team eventually found her at 4am on Friday, crouched in a doorway of Langley Park School.

Team member Steve Owers said: "She was very cold but she was able to talk to the team members, who treated her for hypothermia. She was taken to hospital by ambulance."

Meanwhile, the team has been contacted by 55 people asking to join the organisation, following an appeal.

Team leader Alan Best said the volunteers attended an evening event at the Rescue Centre, Barnard Castle.

He said: "If we had got a dozen people turning up we would have been happy, but to get 55 is outstanding. It is very gratifying to know there are still as lot of people prepared to give up their spare time to help others."

A hill test for the candidates will be held in March, after which selection will be made.

The recruits will then begin a year's training in hill skills, mountain rescue and casualty care