Mountain rescue search dog Fern. Photo: LDMRSDA

Members of the public are being invited to meet search dogs and their handlers this weekend.

Volunteers from the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs Association and their animals will be on hand at an open day on Sunday.

Mike Evans of the organisation said it will be the first such day staged since lockdown, and promises it will be a great day for all the family.

“Our Lake District mountain rescue search dog handlers are all operational members of mountain rescue teams within the Lake District and give up their free time to go out and help lost and injured people,” he said.

The open day will take place at the top car park on the Kirkstone Pass, between Ambleside and Patterdale, opposite the inn at the top of the pass.

Mr Evans said: “Come along and show your support to this dedicated team of people and dogs.

“Bring your family and friends to this beautiful mountain pass in the heart of the Lake District national park and world heritage site. You can meet the search dogs and their handlers and learn all about how we train and work these wonderful search dogs to look for missing people out on the mountains.

“Watch the dogs as they work across the hillside and meet our ‘dogsbodies’, our volunteers who go out and hide for us in all weathers and in all locations – in gullies, behind boulders, under bushes and even, occasionally, up trees.

“We are an entirely voluntary organisation and rely solely on the generosity of public donations so please come along and show your support for this great charity.”

The open day will take place on Sunday 21 August between 11am and 3pm.