Longest period with no mountain rescue in 19 years Published duration 17 April Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic

image copyright Lomond MRT image caption Lomond MRT on a rescue just before call-outs stopped

Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) says its teams have not been called to a mountain rescue since 22 March.

The organisation said it was the longest time between call outs since the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.

The crisis, the worst to hit agriculture in decades, led to months long restrictions on access to land.

Last month, SMR urged people to heed advice around coronavirus and to stay at home.

Glencoe and Lochaber mountain rescue teams, who are not members of SMR, also issued appeals urging people not to visit Scotland's hills and mountains.

They warned an incident potentially risked exposing rescuers and the wider public to the virus.

It would also divert the emergency services and NHS from their work dealing with Covid-19.

On Friday, SMR said it had been 26 days since its teams had been called to a mountain rescue.

Diverting resources

Thanking the public for heeding last month's warning, SMR said: "We can do this. Stay safe, stay local, stay well."

Over the weekend of March 21 and 22, Skye, Lomond and Braemar mountain rescue teams were involved in mountain rescues.