The rescue team which braved sub-zero temperatures to search for a a lost dog who caught global attention is starting work on a new base.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team shot into the spotlight after they helped bring the border collie to safety three years ago.

At the time the team had just launched a mammoth fundraising campaign to build new headquarters on land at Gosforth to replace its existing base which is no longer fit for purpose.

And thanks to Jasper's grateful owner Adam Nolan starting an online fundraising appeal, an almost unbelievable £60,000 was secured in a matter of days.

Further funds have since been secured for the base, which will cost around £350,000, and a contract has been signed for construction work to begin.

The rescue team's president, Richard Longman, said: "There has been a lot of hard work involved to take the project to this stage but this will be a significant milestone and things should move forward quickly from here on."

The building has been designed by Richard Mottram of Egremont, and further developed by WK Design Architects Ltd over the last six months.

Following a tender exercise, the contract has been awarded to Roland Hill Ltd.

Cash for the project has also came from Copeland Community Fund (CCF) which awarded £218,000; and a further £12,000 from the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA).

David Moore, chairman of the CCF board, said: "After over 40 years in the village of Gosforth the team decided a few years ago that they had outgrown their current base behind the Kellbank and thanks its neighbours for their tolerance of having a rescue base in a residential area for that time."

The base will be built on land owner by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which is being leased at a peppercorn rent.

Richard Warren, chairman of LDSAMRA said: "Aside from being a fabulous new facility for the team, the building will significantly enhance the region's capability to deal with major regional incidents."

John Bamforth, WMRT’s chairman, said “This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and donations by many people.

"In particular, I would like to thank the CCF, NDA and LDSAMRA for their continuing support and several benefactors who left very generous amounts in their wills to make this project possible.

"Singling out individual effort in a team is never easy but I would particularly like to thank one of our members, Martin Young who has acted as our Project Lead; he has driven this important project forward with passion.

Wasdale mounted a huge search for Jasper in difficult conditions, an operation that was watched closely on social media, with people praising the lengths to which volunteers went to help.

Thousands of people from across the world followed the story but it was Carlisle man Geoff Horky, an experienced climber, who found the dog before calling for assistance to bring him to safety.

The donations given to the team in the wake of that highlighted strongly the fundraising campaign for the new base.