MORE than 30 members from two mountain rescue teams were deployed supporting police in a four-hour search and rescue operation at the weekend.

Late on Friday night, Oldham Mountain Rescue Team received a request for assistance from police who needed help with the location and evacuation of a male who was lost somewhere on the moor near Denshaw.

Because the man’s exact location was unknown and amid inclement weather, the team contacted neighbouring Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team for back up with extra numbers in case it turned into a protracted search.

The search parties and dogs were deployed at multiple locations along the Pennine Way and the casualty was found by Greater Manchester Police.

A short time later, the man was packaged on a stretcher and carried to the road, where he was passed to North West Ambulance Service for further assessment.

Said an OMRT spokesman: "This was :another example of excellent multi-agency collaboration, thanks to our colleagues at HVMRT for the assistance, as well as GMP and NWAS. “