MP presses for urgent review of “dangerous” changes to search and rescue helicopter contracts

South Lakes MP Tim Farron is backing calls from mountain rescue teams across the UK for an urgent review of a new contract for search and rescue helicopters.

The new changes mean that search and rescue helicopters won't be dispatched to recover dead bodies or to bring volunteers to safety after completion of their rescue mission.

Tim has written to Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, asking him to set up an urgent meeting between representatives from the agencies that oversee search and rescue operations to re-write the Air Rescue Contract to the satisfaction of the leaders of the Mountain Rescue organisations.

Tim said: "Our mountain rescue teams are unsung heroes, saving lives in incredibly tough conditions.

"This new contract is an insult to all the hard work they do.

"But it's also incredibly dangerous that they are being left to perform long and difficult recoveries off mountains with no assistance.

"For the safety of our brave local mountain rescue teams, it's absolutely crucial that this gets resolved as soon as possible."