Team members' gear is vital for rescues. Photo: Calder Valley SRT

A rescue team has launched a fundraising appeal to help one of its members who had £600 of gear stolen.

Members of the public are being asked to contribute via an online page to provide money to replace the vital lifesaving gear that disappeared from the Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team’s car when it was parked outside the volunteer’s Bradford home.

The equipment was in a red and black Macpac rucksack. Team leader Les Wilson said: “Some of the contents are standard things you would expect to find in a rucksack such as a climbing harness and headtorch.

“However, other items that were in the rucksack clearly identify the owner as a member of a mountain rescue team. These include a white Petzl helmet that is labelled with mountain rescue livery and a small but very powerful hand torch used for searching.

“Other items in the rucksack included a pair of grey overtrousers, Berghaus gloves, Keela Outdoors hat, karabiners, slings and a two-person bivvy shelter.”

Colleagues have rallied round to help the rescuer, but the team has now launched the MyDonate page with the aim of raising £600. At the time of writing, donations had reached £170.

The Calder Valley team covers the hills and moors of the South Pennines, between the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales. Team members are responsible for buying much of their clothing and equipment and are unpaid.

Donations can be made via the Calder Valley SRT MyDonate page.