TWO special new members have been welcomed to Dartmoor Search Rescue Ashburton – brother and sister Mountain Rescue Search Dogs Amber and Binnie.

The Ashburton branch of the rescue service says: ‘We are now proud to welcome two new team members, brother and sister Mountain Rescue Search Dogs Amber and Binnie (aka Bill). 

‘They passed rigorous assessment, searching five areas on mountains in the Lake District over three days.

‘Throughout their intensive training they have shown what a huge asset they will be on call-outs, and it is the first time we have had dogs on our team in over 15 years. 

‘Congratulations to their handlers Paula Holbrook and Chris Tuckett, who have continued with their other team responsibilities in addition to the demands of search dog training locally on #dartmoor three times a week and nationally in UK mountainous regions for three days a month.

‘Thank you to team members and other volunteers, in particular Pete Sherman, for countless hours hiding waiting to be found. In reality, it is these brave ‘bodies’ that train and motivate the dogs to find.’