Team members practicing throw line rescue in River Tees
A volunteer rescue team has been given a cash boost to help it respond to incidents around water.
The Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team will use the £10,000 Big Lottery Fund award to buy two rafts.
The deputy team leader has described them as vital equipment, which would be suitable for use in floods.
The team was deployed for the major rescue operation during the devastating floods in Cumbria in November.
Chris Roberts, deputy team leader, said: "Thanks to this award, we will be able to become a fully equipped and active responder to any flood incidents that may occur within County Durham and beyond if required."
He added: "As with all of the work undertaken by a voluntary organisation such as ours, donations by bodies such as the Big Lottery and of course the generous donations by the public are our life blood."
