SOME may call it a shaggy dog story but the latest member to join the ranks of The Pidley Mountain Rescue Team is. . . a mountain rescue dog . Merlin the Saint Bernard was made a member of the charity fundraising team by his owners Peter and Fiona Cook f

SOME may call it a shaggy dog story but the latest member to join the ranks of The Pidley Mountain Rescue Team is. . . a 'mountain rescue dog'.

Merlin the Saint Bernard was made a member of the charity fundraising team by his owners Peter and Fiona Cook from Gamlingay.

Not only did they pay out £10 each for their life membership, but Merlin was also included.

Gil Boyd, the charity's chairman, said: "It is always nice to have an animal such as the Saint Bernard associated with our rescues.

"It is just a shame that he didn't have his barrel of brandy under his chin so that we could all enjoy a tipple on the committee."

The Pidley Mountain Rescue Team has for the past 35 years been fundraising in order to purchase a specialist piece of equipment for a disabled person in Huntingdonshire.

INFORMATION: To become a life member of charity, send a £10 cheque made payable to the Pidley Mountain Rescue Team c/o Kevin Doyle,

Treasurer, The Drive, High Street, Pidley, Cambs, PE283BX.

Visit the website www.pidleymountainrescue.org.uk for more information.