ENGINEERS in Heybridge have raised £800 for the Essex Search and Rescue team.

Mark Yates, the owner of Gratech 4x4 in the Benbridge Industrial Estate in Heybridge, was inspired to fundraise for the team after qualifying as a volunteer.

The search and rescue team have approximately 65 members, and are a charity which provides a pool of trained volunteers ready to assist the police searching for missing vulnerable persons from children to vulnerable elderly people.

While they are mainly focused on Essex, they will also assist with cases in Suffolk, Kent and Cambridge.

Inspired by the work the team does, Mark held a raffle in December which sold tickets around the county to raise funds for the team, who are completely reliant on donations, managing to bring in £800.

Mark said: “I was initially training to be a police special constable, but when I met Chrissy Drew who works for the search and rescue and learned what they did, it seemed like an even more worthwhile position to train for.”

Chrissy added: “We hope to be able to raise funds for a second support vehicle, plus help towards the training of new volunteers who we recruit twice a year. We encompass all of land searching, so anything that can help spread awareness of us is a great boost.”

Visit essexsearchandrescue.org.uk.