The Patterdale team used the generator at fundraising events

A volunteer rescue team has been left stunned after an expensive piece of equipment was stolen during a fundraising event.

A generator worth £2,500 was taken from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team’s trailer after the first day of a weekend festival.

The generator was used to power the team’s display trailer and is needed at events.

It disappeared after raiders broke into the trailer overnight on Saturday during the Dalemain Marmalade Festival. Fundraising officer Nigel Harling said: “We’d had a busy day at the festival on Saturday, and had been hosting a toast-sculpturing activity as well as meeting visitors and talking about the work of mountain rescue.

“The generator was stored with other vehicles and displays but thieves had obviously been sussing us out and realised that our generator was relatively mobile and potentially valuable.

“Fortunately, very little damage was done to the trailer itself but the generator is still a big piece of kit to lose and one that, like everything in Patterdale MRT, had been bought with donations from our amazing supporters.

A generator similar to the one stolen from the team

“Obviously we’re keen to recover the generator if we possibly can and are wary of spending our supporters’ funds on a new one until we’re sure that’s not possible. If anyone is suspicious of a generator that they’re offered for sale or anything like that, please let the police know as soon as possible.”

Chair of trustees Jacquie Freeborn added: “Our invitation to the Marmalade Festival was much appreciated and we were having a lot of fun hosting the toast sculpturing.

“We couldn’t run the toasters on Sunday without the generator which was a shame but we still raised nearly £250 in donations over the weekend as well as meeting lots of potential new supporters and visitors to the area.

“It’s just a shame that a great event that brings so much good publicity to the Ullswater area also attracted, on this occasion, people who were out for their own benefit.”