MOUNTAIN and cave rescue charities in Craven have given a "warm welcome" to a move by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to let them claim back VAT .

From April, search and rescue charities, which are staffed by volunteers and entirely funded by donations, have been given full VAT exemption on all the equipment they buy to carry out their work.

The Chancellor made the announcement in his Autumn Statement last week. It follows years of lobbying by search and rescue charities, which argued that they should be on a par in VAT terms with the emergency services alongside which they often work.

VAT was raised to 20 per cent by the Coalition Government in 2011.

Heather Eastwood, chairman of the Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation, said she was "absolutely delighted" by the news.

She told the Craven Herald: "Obviously this is great for us because it means the donations we get can go that much further.

"However, it is also fair to say we are waiting with bated breath to find out exactly what the wording is on how exactly we will be able to claim the VAT back. But it certainly is a good move and one which we have been after for a long time."

The important work of the Craven area's rescue organisations has long been recognised, with hundreds of walkers and cavers in trouble helped over the years.

Just three weeks ago, 13 members of the Grassington-based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association helped to rescue a 70-year-old in the Ripon area.

The pensioner - who had been reported missing - was found down a steep bank next to the River Ure by a swift water rescue team from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and carried by stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

The association's chairman Harry Long said: "We are very pleased because it would mean very significant savings for us. But we need to see the details of the plan before we can judge exactly what it will mean."

And national organisation Mountain Rescue England and Wales welcomed the Chancellor's announcement as "very encouraging".

Chairman Mike France said: "It is great to have the recognition in central government of the valuable work done by volunteer rescue services and also of the generosity of our many supporters.'

'This issue of financial support has been under discussion for a long time and there have been various options and mechanisms in place – the latest announcement looks encouraging but we’ve still to see the details of how much admin will be needed from our already stretched volunteers and also how we can ensure that this refund and other support from central government has a positive impact for all the 50-plus teams across England and Wales."