Team members show off their new rucksacks. Photo: Dave Cawthorn

Every member of a mountain rescue team got the sack recently.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team was kitted out with bright red rucksacks to carry their gear to callouts, after a £4,000 fundraising effort.

The Haglöfs backpacks replace seven-year-old sacks that were nearing the end of their life. 40 members of the team took delivery of the new packs thanks, in part to donations from the People’s Postcode Lottery which provided £2,000, and the Clydesdale Bank Foundation, which chipped in with £400.

A team spokesperson said: “The team received several sample sacks from various suppliers but eventually decided on the Haglòfs Rand 50 as the sack which best fitted the team’s requirements.”

The brand donated a £35 Actives Cool t-shirt to each team member.

Team members raised the remaining cash for the rucksacks with a series of events.

Dave Wright, TVMRT fundraising and events co-ordinator, said: “Keeping each team member kitted out with the equipment required to carry out their search and rescue role is expensive.

“Each team member is issued with over £1,000 worth of kit to allow them to operate in all weather conditions.

“Raising funds in the present financial climate is proving more and more difficult. I would like to thank everyone for their individual donations to the team and also the People’s Postcode Trust and the Clydesdale Bank Foundation for their respective grants.

“The team is now focusing its efforts on raising a target of £6,000 for new waterproof jackets which is another essential piece of kit for each team member.”

Mr Wright appealed to members of the community who wish to make a one-off donation or raise funds for the team to visit its website.

The team carries out rescues in the eastern part of the Scottish Borders in a large area running from Edinburgh to the border with England.