A UNIQUE volunteer group in North Yorkshire which supports victims of emergencies has been working with local people affected by the Manchester bombing.

The Major Incident Response Team (MIRT) was set up by the county council 26 years ago. It has 35 volunteers who can be called upon by the emergency services and local authorities to offer practical and emotional support to victims.

Alex Sutcliffe, manager of MIRT, said: “We are working very closely with other services to support people who have been affected by the Manchester bombing.

“Our work is about keeping people safe if they are experiencing post-trauma stress or depression. It involves listening to and talking to people. As a large team, we have the flexibility to get in quickly, and people do benefit from a rapid but light-touch intervention.”

The group has now been offered a grant of £8,500 from the North Yorkshire Police and Crime commissioner’s community safety fund to pay for training for members as mental health first aid instructors, who will be able to pass on techniques.