Cumbria Ore Mines Rescue Unit (COMRU) have added a second vehicle to their collection, easing recovery operations during the winter months.

The Penrith-based Unit has taken delivery of a second Mercedes Benz UNIMOG all-terrain ambulance and equipment carrier.

The volunteer-run rescue team is part of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association and provides a specialist underground rescue capability throughout Cumbria and neighbouring areas.

The UNIMOG’s high capacity and all-weather ability make it ideally suited for the crew's operations which can see them accessing abandoned mine sites in the Pennines or Lakeland fells in the depths of winter.

Donations to the charity and careful management of existing team funds have enabled COMRU to review the teams’ future transport needs and consider how best to combine those with an increased level of support back to the region.

A spokesperson for the team said: “The new vehicle will be a support vehicle for our primary equipment carrier. COMRU’s intention is that this second vehicle, rather than being considered as an addition for just one team becomes an available resource for other Lake District rescue teams should need arise for its capabilities.

“It may be of valuable assistance in non-mountain situations such as urban flooding where a swift water rescue response needs volumes of bulky equipment moved to locations where trailers are unsuitable or smaller vehicles do not have the capacity. At present, it is preloaded with an inflatable ‘air shelter’ building that is ideal for major incidents where a changing or rest space is needed.”