EIGHTY rescuers were involved in a search for walkers missing on moorland near Huddersfield – but there was never any cause for alarm.

And it came as good news emerged about Government plans to make life easier financially for the teams.

The weekend’s operation was merely a training exercise to test the skills of mountain rescue teams from across the Pennines.

The five teams that make up the Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation – Holme Valley, Calder Valley, Bolton, Bowland, Rossendale and Pendle – took part in the simulated incident on Saturday.

Owen Phillips, assistant leader for the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team, said: “If there was a major incident we would all get called in and have to work together. We need to be prepared.”

The exercise covered 32 square kilometres of moorland on both sides of the M62.

It took about four hours for the teams to locate and rescue the four volunteers posing as missing walkers.

Owen, 26, who lives in Holmfirth, said: “It tests your ability to plan, to work as teams, to navigate and to predict how people will behave in that situation.”

Mountain rescue teams are voluntary, relying on collections and donations. They can be called upon to help in civil emergencies, including flooding and major incidents.

In 2008 they were involved in the search for missing Dewsbury schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.

Owen, a designer by trade, said: “We see our role as increasingly important.”

News that mountain rescue teams could be given a tax break has been welcomed by Holme Valley volunteers.

A long-running campaign to allow teams to reclaim the VAT spent on equipment appears to have been successful.

Chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, told the House of Commons money had been put aside to help the volunteers with their costs.

He said the money would be available from April and a detailed announcement would be made shortly.

Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team spends about £10,000 a year on running costs.

Peter Phillips, a member for 31 years, said: “This is great news. We are an organisation that totally relies on voluntary donations. With VAT going up to 20%, if it costs £10,000 a year to run and that’s £2,000 going back to the Government.

“We have been campaigning for this for quite a long time.”