Despite its name, the Cave Rescue Organisation has also helped many walkers in trouble on the hills and an MP has pledged to help find more support for the organisation's services.

Member for Skipton and Ripon Julian Smith visited Cave Rescue's headquarters in Clapham, North Yorkshire, earlier this month.

He has now pledged to use his position on the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mountain Rescue to seek more funding for the body.

"One of the aims of the visit was to hear about the challenges the organisation faces so that I can raise these at Westminster with the government," Mr Smith stated.

The rescue team may be busy in the coming days if those who go walking head for the hills without the right sort of clothing, such as winter jackets, or without the correct walking boots.

Examples of mountain rescues carried out by the organisation include an instance last month of a walker being stretchered off a fell near Austwick in North Yorkshire after he slipped and broke his ankle.