THE haunting call and distinctive flight of the curlew has made it synonymous with the wild moors of Northumberland.

For that reason, it was chosen as the emblem of Northumberland National Park, and the call sign of the national park’s mountain rescue team.

So it is therefore fitting that a new beer created by Allendale Brewery to mark the 50th anniversary of the rescue team should be called Curlew’s Rescue.

And quaffers of the golden jubilee brew can be content in the knowledge that 10p from every pint they sup will be donated by the brewery to the rescue team towards its goals of raising £50,000 in its 50th year.

A spokesman for the brewery said: “With the curlew as Northumberland National Park’s official symbol it seemed an ideal beer choice for the partnership and fund-raising project.

“The brewery team also hopes, in addition to the financial support, the Curlew’s Rescue will raise awareness for the lifesaving service that the volunteers carry out 365 days a year, day and night in every weather condition.

“Please join us in showing your support of their hard work and raise a pint of Curlew’s Rescue to our local mountain rescue team.”

Donations from the general public to the team can also be made via the rescue team’s Just Giving page, www.justgiving.com/nnpmrt

Despite its name, the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team provides a search and rescue service across 12,159 square miles and includes the whole of Northumberland and the conurbation of Tyne & Wear.

Calls for assistance include not only search and mountain rescue of walkers, fell/trail runners and mountain bikers in the uplands of Northumberland but also the search and rescue of missing children and vulnerable adults in rural and urban settings.

All members are volunteers and have a shared interest in providing a vital life-saving service. The team is solely reliant on voluntary donations and grants from charitable trusts.