Surrey Search and Rescue (Sursar) was last week called out for the 300th time, having formed more than four years ago.

The team, now numbering close to 90 volunteers, was called in to help search for a vulnerable person.

Head of operations Seamus Kearns said: "With each call out we grow professionally. What started as a small group of community spirited people has now grown into a well drilled organisation that has developed specialist teams in water rescue, search dogs and even a technical climbing team, in addition to our core search skills."

Surrey Chief Constable Lynne Owens praised Sursar's responses to emergency situations and commended the milestone.

She said: "Primarily used to locate missing members of the public when at their most vulnerable, the actions of Sursar members have saved lives. Also, in last year's floods their water-borne contribution brought relief to residents of north Surrey."