TWO Cumbrian mountain rescue teams will be able to buy new equipment after making successful bids for Government funding.

The Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team have won £4,000 worth of funding which will pay for a new box trailer to assist them in their life saving missions.

And the Duddon & Furness team have secured more than £2,000 worth of funding which will pay for various vital pieces of equipment including lifejackets, sleds, stretchers and glow sticks.

The grants were awarded as part of the Department for Transport's Rescue Boat Grant Fund scheme, which provides funding for independent search and rescue teams working on inland waterways.

“Our rescue boat teams are the unsung heroes of the UK’s waterways," said Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani.

"Their commitment and skill keeps people safe on and around our rivers, lakes and inshore areas.

“Lives have been saved as a result of this scheme and our additional funding will ensure that these tireless volunteers and charities can buy the craft, equipment, and other resources they need to provide vital round-the-clock services."