Neil Marsey of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, left, and the lord lieutenant view the new vehicle

A mountain rescue team’s extended headquarters were officially opened by a lord lieutenant during an open day.

Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team has also acquired a fourth vehicle for use on its operations.

The new vehicle was used twice in separate incidents the day after its delivery.

North Yorkshire Lord Lieutenant Barry Dodd visited the volunteer team’s Snainton base, where much of the work was funded by a bequest from a well-wisher.

A team spokesperson said: “The team celebrated their 50th anniversary last year and as part of the year they reviewed the team capabilities, equipment and callout trend over recent times.

“The very clear message they took from this was that there was a need for more storage, garaging and an improved method of transporting search parties and casualties.

“This resulted in a working plan to extend the existing building on to waste ground behind the base to provide secure storage for four vehicles and two trailers. It would further provide an indoor training facility and meeting room, rest facilities and a purpose-built drying room.

“The team also made the decision to procure a fourth vehicle fitted out as an all-weather, 4×4, troop transporter with a dual role of ambulance should we need to evacuate casualties be these casualties seated or stretcher bound.”

The spokesperson said, for a team of volunteers, receiving no direct funding and with annual running costs of around £40,000 and totally reliant on donations, collections and sponsorship a project of this magnitude was a brave and costly decision.

The increasing workload and the range of search and rescue activities it was being asked to respond to dictated the move, the spokesperson said.

“A very kind legacy bequeathed by the estate of the late Malcolm Leslie Chipchase of Snainton provided much of the funding for the rebuild and the aim of the open day was to acknowledge this generosity by asking the lord lieutenant to unveil a plaque in recognition of this kindness,” the spokesperson added.

Neil and Becky Robinson present the cheque to Roger Hartley of the team

The team said it was delighted to welcome members of the public, members of the emergency services, former team members and members of neighbouring teams to the open day at which it also received a £500 donation from Neil and Becky Robinson in gratitude for rescuing Mr Robinson following a mountain bike accident in Dalby Forest in October 2015.

Ms Robinson raised the money through sponsorship of her competing in the Great North Swim.

The lord lieutenant, on behalf of the five North Yorkshire volunteer rescue teams, the North East Search and Rescue Association and the Yorkshire Dales Rescue Panel presented a certificate of appreciation to PC Jon Rushton who is shortly due to retire from North Yorkshire Police.

The Scarborough and Ryedale MRT spokesperson said: “Over the past nine years PC Rushton was the single point of contact between the police and the five teams and through his dedication and service made a significant contribution to the visibility of the teams within the statutory emergency services, their relationship and joint working practices.

“The team are looking forward to their next 50 years with members of the public already benefiting from this investment.”