A training exercise carried out by Civil Defence volunteers has been highly praised by an ex-RAF Mountain Rescue Team Leader. The exercise was carried out on hills by Windy Corner on Wednesday May 25th in wet and windy conditions and in poor visibility, with the objective of the recovery of “casualties”. Unknown to the volunteers they were being inspected and monitored by an ex-RAF Mountain Rescue Team Leader (MRTL). The RAF Mountain Rescue Teams are extremely professional and highly respected not only throughout the UK, but throughout the world. During the de-brief, the MRTL told the volunteers that they had all worked well together, had achieved the objective of locating two casualties in difficult conditions and removed them from the hill within a two hour period. The MRTL described the team as being ‘very good’, which is high praise from such a respected individual. Minister for Home Affairs, Adrian Earnshaw, said “I am delighted by this news and would like to thank the Civil Defence volunteers for the efforts they regularly put in which has led to them having earned this praise. They should be rightly proud of the achievement.” The MRTL has agreed to assist with further training of the Civil Defence volunteers which will be tailored towards treatment of casualties in the hostile environment which they could be expected to work. ENDS