PEOPLE are being urged to sign up as volunteers to help find missing people in Wiltshire.

An appeal has been made by Wiltshire Search and Rescue for more volunteers to support their vital work.

More volunteers are needed to ensure the team can continue to provide a high level of assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wiltshire Search and Rescue’s members, who range from teachers to delivery drivers, are all volunteers who receive the essential training needed to help save the lives of anyone, from small children to helping elderly people suffering from dementia.

Adrian Sawyer, chair of Wiltshire Search and Rescue, is encouraging people to join the team.

“You don’t need to commit many hours a month but our volunteers make a huge difference to the families of the missing people,” he said.

“Our work, alongside Wiltshire Police, has already helped to locate 20 people this year and safely return them to their families and friends.

“In an average year, we’ll be called out 35 times, giving over 120 hours of our time to help the people of Wiltshire.”

Cris Wiles, membership officer, added: “When we get the call from the police, it is vital that searchers are on the ground quickly, especially when bad weather makes the risk to the missing person even greater.”

Full training will be given to those singing up to be volunteers, so no experience is necessary.

Roles range from search technicians who will take part in the search and rescue operations, through to supporting team members such as fundraisers, administration and maintenance.

For more information, visit wilsar.org.uk or email membership@wilsar.org.uk