The UK's mountain rescue teams currently share an annual grant of £200,000

An MP is pressing the Government to extend a scheme in which mountain rescue teams receive a grant for equipment and training.

The coalition Government agreed to an annual funding of £200,000 for UK teams, but this is due to end in 2015.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron wants the grants extended beyond next year, and is backing a campaign to have the volunteer rescue teams’ equipment exempted from VAT.

Liberal Democrat MP Mr Farron, who is also the vice-chair of the all party parliamentary group on mountain rescue teams, said Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told him in a letter: “In 2011, the Treasury approved grants to be awarded to these organisations to cover the cost of purchase of equipment and training for their staff.

“Funding of £200,000 per annum for a four year period commenced in April 2011, and will finish at the end of March 2015.

“The Treasury is considering whether to providing [sic] further grants in 2015-16 and I expect that decision will be announced shortly.”

Mr Farron said: “This letter is welcome news but we need the Treasury to agree to keep the funding that we fought so hard for in place.

“Our mountain rescue teams do amazing work for people in desperate need. I cannot praise them highly enough. Their determination and bravery always leaves me humble. They are real heroes.”

Tim Farron: 'mountain rescue teams do amazing work'

He said he is working with MEP Chris Davies to go even further and to scrap all VAT from the equipment bought by mountain rescue teams. The Royal Nation Lifeboat Institution has a special VAT exemption from the EU and Mr Davies has called on the European Commission to expand the exemption to mountain rescue teams.

The Lib Dem MEP has set up an online petition in support of the campaign on his website.