North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) received 48 calls to deal with emergency incidents during 2007, smashing 2005's total of 24, which was matched last year.

The new record has made 2007 the busiest year for the NEWSAR team since it was first established 26 years ago.

Emergency calls have included a fallen climber, injured and lost mountain bikers, elderly people and vulnerable young adults missing from their homes, and calls to several road traffic collisions.

NEWSAR has also helped other rescue teams, including Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, and has worked with North Wales Police, Dyfed Powys Police, the Welsh Ambulance Service and the Welsh Air Ambulance service in dealing with emergencies.

Iain Ashcroft, NEWSAR team leader, said: "We have had to contend with double the number of callouts, as well as maintaining our training and fundraising activities. We believe the increase in callouts is due in part to the emergency services recognising our expertise and professionalism."

The NEWSAR team is hoping 2008 will be a quieter year, as it will mark the 75th anniversary of the mountain rescue service in the UK.

From its beginnings in Manchester in 1933, the service has now grown to include more than 80 teams in the UK – the only emergency service staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.

A number of events will be held to mark the anniversary, including a gala dinner, hill days and a major exhibition at Rheged in the Lake District.

NEWSAR is hoping all of the events will help to raise awareness of the mountain rescue services in the UK and of the valuable work they do both in the hills and in the wider community.

The NEWSAR team is made up of about 40 volunteers and its main aim is to help those who are missing or in need of rescue in North East Wales and neighbouring counties, both in mountainous terrain and more suburban areas.

NEWSAR operates a 24-hour a day, 365-days-a-year service and attends an average of 25 callouts per year.

Like all mountain rescue teams, it is a registered charity and is entirely self-financing, depending solely on fundraising and donations.

Earlier this year, team members Heather Tansley and Ann Parry and their friend Carol Davies took on a 950-mile cycle challenge to raise much needed funds to provide radios for the team.

For further information visit www.newsar.org.uk, or to find out more about the upcoming anniversary, log on to www.mountain. rescue. org.uk.