THE North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team opened its doors to its sponsors and potential investors on Saturday in its centre of operations on Exeter Road.

The search and rescue team invited investors to its centre, an industrial unit on Exeter Road Industrial Estate, to find out more about the group's work.

The event also gave the group a chance to recognise the dedication of Andy Aiano, who was awarded with a long service life membership to commemorate his efforts for the group.

The team has been based in the building for around two years after a long search for new premises. The group's new base provides better access to the road network, and thanks to the secure garage space, has improved team response times. Situated adjacent to the West Devon Borough Council snow plough facility, the new centre will also improve availability during periods of heavy snowfall.

Before finding its new home, the team was based completely at a property in George Street, behind the town's NatWest branch. The team had been based in the converted stable block since the late 1980s. While this served the team well during its tenure, the group had outgrown the site, with no secure vehicle parking, equipment drying areas and limited storage space.

The rescue team was formed in 1969 to provide voluntary mountain rescue assistance to the police and community. Since then the team's scope has grown, assisting the police and other emergency services by providing a search and rescue facility for missing and injured persons 365 days a year.

The team now has a wider operational remit, stretching from the Cornish border to the Blackdown Hills. This also includes assistance to the Westcountry Ambulance Service during times of adverse weather and urban searches for vulnerable people.

As a 999 service, the team attends to around 20 incidents each year, plus roughly another ten incidents during the Ten Tors challenge.

The team is one of four that makes up the Dartmoor Rescue Group (DRG). Over time the group became an officially recognised search and rescue body affiliated with the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales.

The NDSART consists of around 50 highly skilled volunteers, all from different walks of life with different attributes.

Each member goes through a six to 18 month period of training including navigation, search techniques, casualty care, communications and helicopter deployment and evacuation. The group also has a swift water rescue facility.

The team is generally asked to assist after an emergency call is received by police. The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary initiate a search, and contact the team, tasking it for the search operation.

For more information on the group and the work it does, visit http://www.ndsart.org.uk">www.ndsart.org.uk

On the website, people can find out how to donate money to the team and how to become a member of the NDSART.