Safety first as walkers receive good advice from rescue team

But yesterday, the volunteer-run rescue team, the oldest of its kind in the world, was invited by the Walk For All organisers to set up shop in Settle market place.

The group handed out safety brochures and details of how to respond to major incidents to walkers heading out to the Dales.

They also had their kit ready on stand-by if they were needed.

Dave Gallivan, duty controller for last week’s major rescue operation when 12 people became stuck in Lower Long Churn cave, near Selside in the Ingleton area, said: “What we wanted to do was highlight the work that we do with cave and mountain rescue operations and ensure people enjoy the Dales safely.

“Last week was a trying rescue because of the weather conditions. If we hadn’t got a break in the weather when we did they might well have been there until the next day.

“We are one of the busiest mountain rescue teams in the country as well as being the oldest cave rescue team in the world.

“We were delighted to come and show our support for the Walk For All Festival.

“The organisation was absolutely fantastic and everybody brought along the right equipment to help stay safe.”

The Cave Rescue Organisation is based in Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales and operates in the Three Peaks area of the national park as well as extending westwards into Lancashire and Cumbria and eastwards as far as Malham and Gordale.

It was founded in 1935 and last year celebrated its 75th anniversary.

The organisation currently has around 80 volunteer rescuers, comprising of an operational team of 52 with a further 36 in a support role.