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An iconic Snowdonia mountain was “lit up” by volunteer rescuers celebrating their 50th anniversary last night.

More than 100 past and present members of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation (OVMRO), joined supporters in a walk up Tryfan mountain carrying torches.

When a flare was lit at dusk all the torches were switched on in a spectacle which lit up the notorious North Ridge.

An RAF Sea King helicopter also flew overhead and turned on all its lights as it hovered just above the summit.

The team are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and last night’s event was one of a series planned during the year.

Team chairman Andy Harbach said: “Lighting up Tryfan is symbolic and tells people we are here.

“It has been several months in the planning and the weather conditions are just right.”

He said support for the idea had been “incredible” and team members at the base, located at the foot of Tryfan, said the atmosphere on the hillside from monitoring the radio calls had been “electric”

Mr Harbach added: “We split the members up into groups.

“Some were tasked to go to the summit so they set off first. Others were detailed specific locations along the ridge and others were lower down.

“Seeing all the lights twinkling in the darkness was magical.”

Motorists on the A5 slowed to see the spectacle which was not widely publicised.

One tweeted: “Someone’s just put street lights up Tryfan. Great idea!”

The other events planned include a raft race on Llyn Ogwen, the annual Oggie 8 challenge and a formal dinner on the summit of Tryfan.

OVMRO team has one of the most demanding territories of all to cover.

The team doesn’t cover Snowdon, except when called on by the Llanberis team, but its territory includes the dramatic Nant Ffrancon valley right across to the upper reaches of the Conwy Valley.

It encompasses 10 of the 15 peaks in Snowdonia over 3,000ft, including the Glyderau, Carneddau and the imposing but notoriously tricky Tryfan.

Set up in 1965 OVMRO was the first organised mountain rescue team in North Wales. There are now eight rescue teams covering the whole of the region.

The Ogwen team responds to more than 100 calls a year, but despite the increase is still run by volunteers.

Past team chairman Roger Jones said: “It now costs £60,000 to run this organisation, 95% of it public donation which we are very grateful for.

“We are volunteers, but people expect a professional service. We spend a lot of time training and it’s a big commitment.”

The team has already responded to 30 calls for help so far this year.

At Easter, there were three separate calls which saw five walkers rescued.