MEMBERS of Ashburton’s Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team received their sixth callout of the year yesterday (Sunday) to track down two missing walkers.

The team were mobilised just before 3.30pm after being contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police who had received a report that two female walkers had become cold and frightened whilst on a walk from Ivybridge to Buckfastleigh.

In atrocious wet weather team members were deployed from Shipley Bridge and Lud Gate near Buckfastleigh to a known position gained from the walkers’ mobile phones.

Once located they were checked over by a team doctor and escorted by team members back to the control point to be collected by a relative.

A spokesman for the team said : ‘Every team member is happy to volunteer their time in order to help those either lost or vulnerable on the moor.

‘However, we would reiterate that during these unprecedented times those looking to exercise should do so locally, and with consideration given to the weather when planning a walk, thereby reducing the risk to themselves and team members.’

Team were stood down just after 6pm.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton is a voluntary organisation providing specialist search and rescue services across large parts of Devon assisting Devon and Cornwall Police, neighbouring Search & Rescue teams in locating lost, vulnerable, missing persons.

The team also assists the ambulance service in conveying the injured or ill from remote locations.

Volunteer team members are on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from their families and day jobs. The team relies on over 90% of charitable donations from members of the public to carry out this essential rescue service.

You can support and follow the team on Twitter @Dartmoor_SRTA or Instragram dartmoorrescueashburton or by setting Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton as your chosen charity at https://smile.amazon.co.uk where the team will benefit through a small percentage of your purchases.