TATTON MP Esther McVey has praised the work of Cheshire Search and Rescue, who have been awarded £16,455 to boost their vital life-saving work.

The money has been made available from the Government’s inshore and inland rescue boat grant fund and is the fourth round of funding under this 5-year, £5 million scheme.

Water rescue charities across the country have been awarded £1 million in funding for vital rescue equipment to help keep the UK’s rivers and seas safe. 

 Charities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will use this year’s fund to purchase 14 new lifeboats and maritime equipment including lifejackets, helmets, boots, ropes, knives and torches.

Most of the work of the Cheshire Search and Rescue involves helping search for missing people across the county’s 904 square miles of countryside, including the dense forests of Delamere, as well as in the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal.

Ms McVey said: “Cheshire is so diverse. We have lovely countryside together with large swathes of rural flat land, with towns and villages in between. It is extremely diverse, with hills, woods and miles of waterways.

“The beautiful countryside here attracts thousands of walkers every year and these walkers can turn to the dedicated team at Cheshire Search and Rescue if in danger.

 “The group is manned by volunteers, who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so I know this Government funding will be most welcome to help in their work.”

 To announce the funding Maritime Minster John Hayes visited the Severn Area Rescue Association, an organisation in the west of England which has received a grant of more than £110,000. 

He said: “Every day water rescue volunteers risk their own safety to protect the lives of people across the UK. Their dedication and highly specialised skills are absolutely crucial to providing inshore and inland rescue services.

“This additional money will allow the volunteers and charities to purchase the lifeboats and equipment they need. It will also ensure that assistance is never far away for those in need on or around our waterways.”

Sir Alan Massey, CEO of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: “These smaller, independent charities are the lifeblood of our communities, playing a vital role in supporting the daily lives of thousands of people across the UK. 

“We often need to remind ourselves that these brave women and men may be called at any time of the day or night to assist persons in difficulty. Those persons may be lost or injured, in trouble at sea, or needing to be rescued from fast-flowing water or floods. 

“It’s essential that funding like this is available to independent lifeboats so that they have the proper emergency equipment to aid in rescues. This funding will help meet their goals and ease their financial burden.”