Nell died shortly after retiring from the team. Photo: CVSRT

A rescue team has paid tribute to a long-serving member who has died shortly after ending her active service.

Border collie Nell recently retired on her 13th birthday after more than 11 years with Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team and Search and Rescue Dogs Association England.

The team’s chairman David Warden was Nell’s handler.

The West Yorkshire volunteer team expressed its great sadness at the dog’s passing.

A spokesperson said: “She was always a confident dog, happy to work at great distances from David and thereby searching and clearing large swathes of moorland or mountainside very efficiently.

“She was a quick learner and took to search work very enthusiastically. Nell passed her search dog assessment in Snowdonia and joined CVSRT in March 2006, a few months before her second birthday.

Nell with her handler David Warden. Photo: CVSRT

“Her first assignment was to the Lake District a couple of weeks after passing her assessment and a few months later located a flood victim in the River Swale in North Yorkshire. She was instrumental in locating a despondent adult on Ilkley Moor, with David providing emergency care to the casualty.

“CVSRT would like to thank Nell for her many years of dedication and commitment to the team and the community. She was an adorable character and will be sorely missed.”