Bolton Mountain Rescue Team (BMRT) is to receive almost £30,000 in funding thanks to a government grant,.
As part of the Department for Transport's £1m Inshore and inland Rescue Boat Grant Fund 2019/2020, BMRT will be awarded £29,766.
It will allow the team to buy a new water incident support vehicle and boat trailer, allowing them to boost their ability to search for missing people in water and evacuate flooded properties.
Steve Fletcher, team leader at BMRT, said: “We are delighted to receive this significant grant support from the Department for Transport. The money we receive will help us support our community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
"When you think of Mountain Rescue you wouldn’t think of flood and water rescue as part of the support we offer, but like many teams across the country we join with other rescue team and statutory emergency services when floods come”
The team, made up of 45 volunteers, covers a 360 square mile area from Rivington in the north, to Manchester Airport in the south, and from Wigan in the west to Darwen and Bury in the east.
On occasion, they have also been called out further afield to places such as Lancaster and Scarborough.
Last month, they were targeted by thieves, who stole £2,500 worth of life-saving equipment from a car.
The Inshore and inland rescue boat grant scheme was launched by the UK government in 2014. It offers vital financial support to charitable organisations running local lifeboat and rescue boat services on and around the UK's inland and inshore waterways.
Bolton Mountain Rescue Team were awarded £10,600 in 2015/16, £16,735 in 2016/17 and £13,118.85 in 2018/19 from the Inshore and inland rescue boat grant scheme. This year, 50 charities have been chosen for a share of the £1m grant.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Our rescue boat teams carry out vital work to keep our rivers, lakes and inshore areas safe.
“These inspirational charities and their dedicated volunteers save lives every day, and this additional funding will ensure that they have the craft, equipment, and resources to provide these services year-round."
