A RIDSDALE mountain rescue expert will travel to the USA this week to speak at an international conference.

Carl Hamilton, of the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team (NNPMRT), will speak at the Washington State Search and Rescue conference.

Carl and fellow team member Pete Roberts will talk about ideas they have developed in Northumberland.

The duo will also teach a search skills course along with delivering lectures on aspects of searching for missing persons developed in Northumberland.

Carl and Pete are both former NNPMRT team leaders; Carl has been a member for over 30 years and Pete for over 40 years.

Both were involved in major search operations following the Lockerbie air disaster.