AN emergency rescue team is facing a race against time to find new headquarters.

Bolton Mountain Rescue Team will be homeless by next July as its base in Overdale Drive, Heaton, is converted into a housing development.

Team members, including police officers, paramedics and trained nurses, have now launched a fund-raising appeal to safeguard their future. They are hoping a local business will come to their aid and donate a building.

Fund-raising officer Mike Thomason said: "We are homeless as of next year so if anyone can help us to find a new base then please contact us. Bolton Council has tried to find us accommodation but everything has been far too small.

"It is causing a great deal of stress. We are looking for something along the M61/A6 corridor so we have direct access to the motorway but we need funding. We are praying for it."

Bolton Mountain Rescue team, formed in 1968, is made up of 42 members who are on call 24 hours a day, every day. The team owns two response Land Rover ambulances, an incident support unit and a 13-seater minibus. Yearly running costs are estimated at £16,000.

Rescue teams work alongside police, ambulance and fire crews, responding to incidents including missing people, road traffic accidents and injured ramblers.

They have attended 36 incidents already this year, many on isolated moorland surrounding Bolton. Call-out figures are rising.

The team is based at Bolton Council's Overdale Youth Training Centre in Heaton. All other council services operated from the site, including a youth centre, will be moved to the £11million Castle Hill Community Learning Resource Centre in Tonge Moor -- unveiled to councillors this week.

Mr Thomason added: "It is unlikely that we will ever close but we desperately need a new home. The lease is going to be sold to make way for a housing development. Plans have been passed."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Mike Thomason on 0161 793 5047 or 07711 067313.