UPPER Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association has a new man at the top.

Howard Driver has taken over as chairman of the Grassington-based organisation from Harry Long.

Mr Driver, who lives in Embsay, joined the organisation as a 16-year-old after being involved with the Scout movement.

"As a lover of walking and the outdoors, it seemed the natural progression," he said.

He has now served more than 40 years - 35 of which have been as warden in charge of the equipment. The association has about 100 members.

"I am following in the footsteps of both Chris Baker and Harry Long and I hope to maintain the work they started.

"I am very proud to have been elected chairman of the association and I am most definitely enjoying it," he added.

Having been a teacher for 35 years, Mr Driver is now a technician at Craven College.

Although the role of chairman is a mainly administrative one, Mr Driver will still be an active member of the rescue teams.

One of his roles will be helping encourage younger members.

"We do have an youth group associated with the team and we hope that we can encourage them to take up rescue work when they get older.

"Members have to be 18 and there is a probation period they need to complete to become a full member.

"We get an average call out of between 20 and 25 incidents a year, ranging from large to small," he added.

"People do need to have a commitment to the team and keep up a level of fitness, but it is very rewarding."

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association has been in existence for more than 50 years and operates around Wharfedale, Nidderdale, Littondale and Mid-Airedale.

Made up of volunteer cavers, climbers and mountaineers who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, the association is a registered charity and relies mainly on public donations.

It costs in excess of £15,000 a year to put the association's rescue teams into action.

Their work ranges from searching for missing livestock right through to helping the emergency services on rescues.

Until the middle of November, they had been called out on 18 occasions in 2005, including a fatality involving a party of schoolchildren from Tadcaster Grammar School who were caving in Upper Nidderdale.

For anyone interested in the work carried out by Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue, the association has a website at www.uwfra.org.uk.