A RESCUE volunteer is celebrating after his east Durham employer paid for maps for his organisation.

Stephen Marrs, a team manager at npower's call centre in Peterlee, is a group leader with the Teesdale and Wear-dale Search and Rescue Team.

The team covers an area of more than 700 miles, including the Durham Dales and Pennines. It assists hikers in difficulties and helps police searches for missing people in more urban areas.

Through npower's community volunteers scheme, Mr Marrs has received £500 for maps that will enable the group to extend its coverage and improve its response times to incidents.

He said: "Everyone at npower has been very supportive and understanding of my involvement with the search and rescue team. We rely solely on fundraising activity from all of our volunteers so the £500 is very much appreciated.''

He said: "Last year I applied for, and received, £1,000 from npower to help fund a brand new winch.

"Since then it has proved a real life-saver for one particular puppy, which had fallen down a ravine at a quarry. It's not only humans that benefit from the search and rescue team.''

Npower's corporate charities and community officer, Carol Hart, said: "Npower is committed to helping the community by supporting a wide range of charities and local projects.

"We also want to recognise and support employees who are involved in community-based activities, and Stephen and the search and rescue team is a prime example.''