MOUNTAIN rescuers helped local children in their search for missing teddy bears at Holmer Road, Hereford.

Members of Longtown Mountain Rescue Team lent their support to the Holmer Church of England Academy, which was holding a survival week last month.

The team visited the school and spoke to year one and year five pupils to teach them about safety and what happens during a rescue operation. Two of the team demonstrated how to put up a group shelter and also put one of the teachers in a special vacuum mat which immobilises casualties with suspected spinal injuries.

The visit was in preparation for the school's own search and rescue when teddies went missing in local woodland.

Teacher Katie Williams said: "We are very grateful to members of the rescue team for teaching the children so much about the vital work they do. The children were able to put all they learned into practice when the teddies went missing.

"Thanks to the team the pupils were able to bring the teddies back safely and then present an assembly about their search to the rest of the school the following day."

Graeme Adkin from Longtown MRT added: "We loved meeting the children and telling them about what we do. It’s so important for children to learn about safety during survival weeks like the one at the school. It means they can enjoy the great outdoors and hopefully won't need to call on our services."

Longtown MRT relies almost entirely on public donations. Its members are all highly trained volunteers who are on call 24/7 to help missing and injured people in remote and rural areas across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and South Wales.