Rescue leader will write team's history

A mountain rescue leader says he will write the history of his team when he retires.Garry Rhodes, who received the MBE in the New Year’s Honours, will record the story of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, which he joined in 1974.

Ill equipped walker rescued from Devil's Kitchen

An operation involving 40 north Wales rescuers yesterday had a happy outcome.Members of the Ogwen Valley and Llanberis Mountain Rescue teams spent 2½ hours searching for a 66-year-old man who had become separated from his walking partners.He was found near the Twll Du or Devil’s Kitchen, between Y Garn and Glyder Fawr, overlooking the Ogwen Valley.

Retailer Blacks sheds jobs as profits disappoint

Outdoor retailer Blacks has announced plans to shed up to 60 jobs at its Northampton headquarters following worse-than-expected profits.Despite the Blacks chain posting sales 5.4 per cent up on last year, and its sister shops Millets selling even more – at 7.8 per cent up – its share price fell 10p to 150p on news that its ‘surf’ brands Freespirit and O’Neill had been hit by poor sales.Blacks Leisure, the parent company, issued a post-Christmas profit warning and said it would need to cut £3m from its costs.

Rescuers on exercise find injured Munro walker

An unconscious walker was found by chance by a Scottish mountain rescue team on a training exercise.The team, from RAF Kinloss, was on Sgorr Ruadh in Glen Carron, Wester Ross, when they discovered the man, who had fallen.

Naked rambler back in Scots jail

Naked rambler Stephen Gough is languishing in jail once more after a brief taste of freedom.He was released from court last Friday and re-arrested within a few paces of the exit for breach of the peace.

Climber safe after sea-cliff rescue

A rockclimber was unharmed after being rescued from a sea cliff yesterday.The man was attempting the E4-graded Marmolata Buttress on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast when he became cragfast.

Crib Goch pair safe after air rescue

Two walkers were rescued by helicopter after becoming stuck on Crib Goch, on the Snowdon horseshoe.The pair were airlifted from a crag by a crew from RAF Valley, using a Sea King helicopter.

Charity event will open new Peak cycle trail

National park authorities in the Peak District are looking for cyclists to launch officially a new route which cost more than £¼m – and help a charity while they pedal.The Tissington Triangle is a 28-mile route created by establishing an 11-mile missing link between the existing High Peak and Tissington Trails.

Colliery land-grab bid 'adds insult to injury'

A land-grab plan by a colliery on a south Wales common where a wind farm is proposed is ‘adding insult to injury’, according to opponents.The application, at Mynydd y Betws (Betws Mountain), near Ammanford, would see the Cwm Yr Onen colliery encroach on to common land.