The Cave Rescue Organisation has honoured the hard work and dedication of its long-serving members.

In total, they have given 1,313 years of service – and their efforts were recognised with the presentation of British Cave Rescue Council certificates for 25, 40 and 50 years of service and the CRO’s own ten and 20-year service certificates.

Certificates of appreciation were also presented to Jean Shevelan, Barbara Allwright, Jenny Holmes and Diane Burton for their “tireless work behind the scenes”.

Making the presentation, Lord Shuttleworth, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, was full of praise for the efforts of the team.

“I have the greatest admiration for this organisation and indeed all cave and mountain rescue units,” he said.

“I was extremely glad to see members of the CRO were awarded the Diamond Jubilee medal last year and congratulations to all those who received that honour.

“I’m also glad to be here as I am the owner of Leck Fell, beneath which lies one of the largest cave systems in Europe and I’ve watched it get larger and larger, probably due to the efforts of people you know and maybe people in this room.

“You, the Cave Rescue Organisation, are important to all those people who go caving under my farms and that’s why I am delighted to be here.

“We do operate a managed access system through the council and the northern caving clubs and it’s very reassuring to have a reliable and skillful organisation like yours ready to help if something goes wrong and as we all know it occasionally does.

“It’s a great service which you offer as volunteers and you achieve marvellous results often in appalling conditions and often at considerable risk to the team members.”

Speaking on behalf of CRO, chairman Heather Eastwood said: “I think it’s really nice that members are actually being recognised for the dedication and commitment they have shown to the Cave Rescue Organisation and caving in general, totalling over 1,313 years of combined service.”

Recipients were: 50 years – Brian Boardman; 40 years – Jack Pickup, Roy Holmes, Bernie Bond, Peter Allwright, Peter Dean, Phil Papard and Ian Watson; 25 years – Alison Avison, Andy Colau, Andy Ive, Bill Quintin, Dave Gallivan, David St Pierre, Fred Weakes, Harvey Lomas, Jim Davis, Jon Beavan, Keith Sanderson, Malcolm Linford, Martin Holroyd, Michael Hale, Phil Glover, Philip Nuttall, Rae Lonsdale, Roger Swale, Steve Finch and Tim Pickup; 20 years – Andy Jackson, Chris Edmonson, Martin Colledge, Pam Hickin, Paul Lethebee, Royanne Wilding and Terry Whittaker; 10 years – Andy Whitney, Claire Chadwick, Duncan Morrison, Grant Cox, John Burton, Kevin Chadwick, Martyn Wake, Matt Burke, Mike Kneil, Nick Howlett, Paul Nicholls, Simon McCabe, Sean Whittle and Tom Redfern.