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1st February 2008 MOUNTAIN RESCUE INVOLVED IN MAJOR SEARCH & RESCUE ON A66
Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team are still involved in a major search & rescue operation to recover stranded motorists from the A66 in County Durham. The Team was alerted mid afternoon by Durham Police after the A66 trans pennine route was closed due to the worstening weather conditions. A number of motorists had become trapped in their vehicles on the highest stretch of the road from Bowes in County Durham over to Cumbria. Team members made their way in 4 wheel drive vehicles and on foot in order to locate and assist stranded motorist to a reception centre set up in Bowes village hall. Adam Hearn deputy team leader said " We were asked by the police to assist in the recovery of the motorist due to the high number of stranded motorists. We were assisted on the Cumbria side of the A66 by mountain rescue teams from Kirby Stephen and Penrith. At the present time we have cleared the road of all motorists from their cars and we are currently speaking with HGV drivers to establish if they will leave their vehicles are wait it out until the weather improves and the road reopens. The next phase of our operation will be to check the side roads across the Pennines in case motorists finding the A66 closed have looked for alternative routes and become stranded. We hope to have checked all the roads by 2000hrs tonight.
Notes For Editor Teesdale
& Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team are affiliated to the "Mountain
Rescue - England and Wales". We provide a Search and Rescue service throughout
County Durham and beyond primarily for the Police but also for the other emergency
services. All Team members are volunteers and we rely on monies raised by ourselves
as a registered charity to run the Team. Further details regarding our latest
callouts and Team information can be found on our website www.twsmrt.org.uk
