AN INCIDENT control vehicle for the Okehampton section of the Dartmoor Rescue Group could result in more lives being saved on the moor and throughout Devon and Cornwall in the future.

The specially adapted Ford Transit vehicle, which has been bought at a discount from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, means the group can now operate from a mobile base instead of the rescue centre in Okehampton when emergencies occur.

As well as a sophisticated mobile base, which will be in attendance at the Ten Tors event in May, the group has secured a sponsorship deal of well over £1,000.

Westcountry high-tech specialists LSI Computers Ltd will pay for the vehicle to be resprayed with new colours and the Dartmoor Rescue Group Livery and provide, on a cost-only basis, additional equipment for transporting to the base of a search and rescue operation.

This will include a fax machine, colour photocopier and a power protection device to ensure uninterruptible supply.

The latest support for LSI Computers follows its presentation to the Okehampton section of two lap-top computer last year for mobile use during search and rescue operations.

Although the group focuses on Dartmoor, it has been called out much further afield when people go missing for example Tiverton and Torpoint. The new vehicle will allow the group to be much more flexible.

Treasurer of the section and one of the search managers Clive Madders said: 'It all adds up to a quantum leap forward, in just a few months, in our ability to mount effective operations.

'The end product will be a largely custom-built vehicle that will very effectively house our control staff running an incident and double up as a briefing centre for our teams.'

He said the extra equipment being supplied by LSI will be an added bonus: 'For instance locational maps may be in short supply when we arrive on the scene for a search so with the colour photocopier we can make copies straightaway and hand them out to everybody involved.

'The bottom line is that people missing or in difficulties on the moor can now be located and rescued more quickly and in some cases lives will undoubtedly be saved as a result.'

LSI Computers general manager Graeme Brown commented: 'We are delighted to be able to help in this way. For people on Dartmoor, it must be very reassuring to know that there is such a dedicated and efficient rescue service ready to help them if anything untoward should happen.'