BOLTON Mountain Rescue Team have been donated a brand new, specially designed rescue vehicle.

The emergency response team have been using the SsangYong Musso 4x4 since early March, having utilised it in numerous call outs already.

BT-HS, a Chorley-based company that is primarily concerned with the design and craft of specialised traffic management and highways vehicles, donated the vehicle.

The new vehicle has replaced the recently retired 2004 Land Rover in the Mountain Rescue’s fleet.

Bolton Mountain Rescue Team Leader, Steve Fletcher said: "We were delighted to be confirmed as the recipients of a newly-converted SsangYong Musso 4 x 4 by BT-HS.

“The team's new addition to the fleet has the call sign BM4 replacing our recently retired 2004 Land Rover.

“We have been very impressed with the collaborative design and build of the SsangYong Musso 4x4.

“The vehicle has been used on 3 incidents already - two of these were very much 'off the beaten track', in Rivington Terraced Gardens and in fields near Borsdane Woods near Westhoughton.

“The vehicle has proven itself to be highly capable."

As part of the company’s ongoing community initiatives, BT-HS not only donates the vehicle, but has provided the bespoke conversion to transform the vehicle from the traditional 4x4 vehicle into a fit for purpose, fully equipped mountain rescue vehicle.

BT-HS have previously completed conversions on police cars amongst other specialist vehicles, with this new vehicle the most recent conversion on its portfolio

Director Phil Glaiser is proud to add mountain rescue to BT-HS’ provisions.

“It’s been a welcome challenge for us,” he said.

“When it comes to traffic management, we’re well established in terms of capability, safety and quality and we feel we have established, and continue to build our reputation in that area.

“To be able to diversify and service the emergency vehicle sector provides us with both opportunity and a welcome challenge.”

SsangYong have been making 4x4 and SUV vehicles since 1954.

Upon the unveiling for the vehicle via a video on BT-HS’s social media, a spokesperson for the car manufacturer said: “Great work team and we hope it serves the crew well.”