THE volunteers of Cleveland's mountain rescue team have already responded to 13 call-outs this year.

Eight call-outs in just 22 days over Easter kept the team in action in areas including Middlesbrough, Norton and Goathland.

In the latest incident, on Sunday, members were helping police look for a 74-year-old Alzheimer's sufferer who had not been seen since leaving his Norton home at 10am that day.

Some 26 volunteers searched open spaces towards the north-west of Stockton for five hours without success.

Talking about previous call-outs, spokesman Pete Mounsey said: "We have done various searches in lowlands and the moor tops looking for missing children, confused walkers, dementia sufferers and for the sources of mysterious flares."

The team has been involved in rescuing three injured people from the moors.

Cleveland Search and Rescue has also held its first major fundraising walk of the year and is liaising with two pubs that are planning sponsored walks.

Regulars at the Allandale, in Skelton, and the Frigate, in Marske, will be walking from Whitby to their respective bars on the May Day holiday.

A training course has also been running this week, with people from all the North-East teams attending a session on advanced mountain rescue first aid.

"Normally, in a year, we get between 20 and 30 incidents," said Mr Mounsey. "This year looks like it could be a record.

The team has about 50 unpaid members on call 24 hours a day.

The service has to raise its own £14,000 running costs.