SPECIALIST vacuum mattresses needed to transport casualties with suspected spinal injuries have been bought by Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue - thanks to grant funding.

The Grassington based mountain rescue team was able to buy the specialist mattresses thanks to a grant from the Clapham based Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust - one of many it gave out at the end of last year.

A spokesperson for the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) said: "We would like to thank Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust for their substantial donation to allow us to purchase the new vacuum mattresses the team required. They are used to immobilise a casualty and are particularly useful where a spinal injury is suspected.

"Training has been carried out within the team and the mattresses are now operational in our vehicles."

Mike Appleton, grants officer at YDMT, said: “Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery we were able to help 27 organisations across the Dales and Nidderdale make a real difference to their local communities over the winter. We awarded groups and organisations £4,000 each so they could tackle the cost of living crisis, or do something that was vital to their service delivery.

“UWFRA were one of the groups nominated by the staff team and trustees at YDMT and we were delighted to see them purchase such vital life-saving equipment. They deliver very important work in keeping people safe across the Park and beyond.”