A LAKE District mountain rescue team has been left shocked by the theft of a £2,500 generator.

The generator, belonging to Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, was being used to provide power to the team’s trailer display unit at the Dalemain Marmalade Festival near Penrith at the weekend.

“We’d had a busy day at the Festival on Saturday and had been hosting a toast sculpturing activity as well as meeting visitors and talking about the work of Mountain Rescue,” said team fundraising officer Nigel Harling.

"The generator was stored with other vehicles and displays but thieves had obviously been sussing us out and realised that our generator was relatively mobile and potentially valuable. Fortunately, very little damage was done to the trailer itself but the generator is still a big piece of kit to lose and one that, like everything in Patterdale MRT, had been bought with donations from our amazing supporters.

“Obviously we’re keen to recover the generator if we possibly can and are wary of spending our supporters’ funds on a new one until we’re sure that’s not possible. If anyone is suspicious of a generator that they’re offered for sale or anything like that, please let the police know as soon as possible.”

Chair of Trustees Jacquie Freeborn added: "It’s just a shame that a great event that brings so much good publicity to the Ullswater area also attracted, on this occasion, people who were out for their own benefit.”

If anyone has information, contact Cumbria Police on 101.