RESCUERS had to use sledges to finish a life-saving mission delivering food to starving animals.

The Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team answered a call to help Sally and David Rowley at the Weardale Animal Sanctuary, three miles from the nearest road high above Stanhope, in County Durham.

The couple were running out of food for the animals after being stranded by the snow since December 23.

Durham pet shop Pets at Home replied to an appeal for food and on Sunday, Stanhope PC Frank Hewison and three men from the rescue team finally delivered it to the sanctuary, completing the last stretch on sledges when their 4x4s could not get through the drifts.

Mrs Rowley said: “It was such a relief when they arrived.

Dave has been wading waist-deep over walls and through the snow, but we were getting desperate.

“This is the longest spell of snow we have had since we came here ten years ago and we were very close to running out.

“We are always prepared, but couldn’t prepare for this.”

The rescue team has been working around the clock since Wednesday answering more than 40 calls for help and supporting the North-East Ambulance service by providing a 4x4 vehicle, with driver and advance casualty carer.

They have transported dialysis patients to hospital, got ambulance crews to work and pulled out ambulances that were stuck in snow.

Team leader David Bartles Smith said he was proud of their achievements.