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Mountain rescue volunteers finally have a home to call their own after 50 years.

And on Saturday members of the public got a chance to look around Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team’s new headquarters for the first time.

The new base at Marsden’s former fire station building has been officially unveiled five decades after the group was founded.

Saturday’s opening ceremony at the Manchester Road premises marked the culmination of many years of fundraising and work on the part of team members.

They had worked tirelessly to secure a permanent home to ensure the future legacy of their lifesaving services.

After a massive fundraising effort the team bought the building earlier this year after the station was closed by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The building provides garage space for the team’s two emergency vehicles as well as a training room, control room, kitchen, toilets and ample storage and equipment drying facilities.

The money was raised mainly through the generosity of the public.

The opening ceremony was followed by an open day for visitors to see the building and meet the team.

Spokesman Owen Phillips said: “This is a great opportunity for people to come and see what we do and find out how the money they donate makes a difference.

“The people of Marsden had a lot of support for the local firefighters and their efforts to keep the station open, so we have some big boots to fill.

“But I think the public appreciate the building maintaining its emergency role.

“It’s nice to see the community to show what we’ve done with the place and to thank them for their support.”

On display were displays of equipment and techniques as well as an exhibition on the history of the team.

Opening of Holme Valley Mountain Rescue HQ at Marsden. The Lord Lt of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe (2nd left) who performed the opening ceremony with Gill Howarth of the Holme Valley team (front right), Chairman of Mountain Rescue England, Mike France (left) along with the mayor and mayoress of Kirklees Acting chief constable of West Yorkshire, Dee Collins along with other local mountain recue teams and officials at the opening.

Many individuals and local businesses helped HVMR achieve their fundraising goal, from a major concert to individuals buying bricks for the commemorative wall and donating small change.

Mr Phillips added: “All these people are to thank for getting us to where we are now.

“So we (wanted) to open our doors and show them what we have done with their money.”

The building was opened by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe and those attending included the temporary Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police Dee Collins.

HVMR was launched in 1965 following the deaths of two scouts on the moors.

It is entirely run by volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help those in difficulties on the moors, crags and upland areas.

They also assist in urban and rural environments with difficult to assist casualties, poor weather conditions and on searches for missing persons using their specialist skills.