West Midlands flood rescue team given grant
A search and rescue team from the West Midlands has been given £36,406 from the government to deal with flooding.
West Midlands Search and Rescue was given the money from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The money will help the team meet its five-year obligation to provide flood rescue support in partnership with other rescue teams.
The service covers the area around the River Severn and River Avon in the south of the region.
The money is part of grants worth £820,000 which have been handed out under the £2.7m flood rescue grant scheme which aims to improve the response to flooding in England and Wales.
A spokesman from West Midlands Search and Rescue said the money would be used to train and equip 24 team members who would be part of a second rescue team for the service.
He added it would also be used to train instructors to help members and other rescue teams keep their skills up-to-date.
The grant also covers the cost of replacement ropes, rescue platforms and stretchers.
He said: "We are extremely grateful to Defra for this one off award."