NORTHUMBERLAND National Park Mountain Rescue Team (NNPMRT) needs help from the public to secure a £5,000 funding boost after it was shortlisted by the Aviva Community Fund.

The rescue team will only get the grant if it gets more public votes than the other shortlisted charities.

The mountain rescue team’s operational area of 2,159 square miles is the largest of any team in the UK.

In order to deliver the service it provides, the team’s volunteers must attend regular training to ensure they can respond to incidents effectively.

The fund’s £5,000 would be used to deliver specific training courses for the team’s volunteers.

Supporters can register on the Aviva Community Fund website, with the vote open until November 20.

The shortlisting comes after the NNPMRT and the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team signed a memorandum of understanding with Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service.

The signing of this contract establishes shared access to resources and assistance between the authorities,which can be provided in the event of an emergency incident.

NNPMRT team leader, Iain Nixon, said: “We’re excited to be continuing our work with Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service in this partnership, and look forward to the sharing our expertise and resources with each other when responding to emergency incidents in Northumberland.”