Founded in 1968 by 3 Rossendale Fell Rescue Team members, who lived in the Bolton area, the Team has grown from  small beginnings to be one of the busiest and best equipped teams in the country.

The early years, as with many foundling organisations, was one of sheer hard work to raise minimal amounts of money for essential equipment which was initially transported both for exercise and incidents in privately owned vehicles.

The first vehicles owned by the Team were all old "second-hand" ones past their best before date, they were cherished and nursed by the dedicated membership. Much is owed to these early pioneers, most of whom have long left but two remain in the team - Alan "General" James, one of the original founder members, now a life Vice President, only stopped active service in early 1999 due to a job move to the London area. Geoffrey H. Seddon, currently Deputy Team Leader, joined within a few months of the Team's inauguration and has served as Team Leader (7 years) and Chairman.

The 1980's saw consolidation of the Team with a gradual improvement in the quality and quantity of equipment and vehicles. During this decade we saw the implementation of structured training and the MRC casualty care course and certificate. By the late 80's and early 90's, training was based on a professional and formalized activity.

As a "fringe" Mountain Rescue Team based in an rural/urban area, the local moorlands generated few incidents. Even up until the early 90's fewer than 10 incidents per year were the norm. In the 70's and 80's 2 or 3 call outs per year were common.

The combination of a large urban catchment area for membership and low incident rate meant a very high level of training was able to be undertaken. Morale was maintained by training weekends in the Lakes or North Wales with the added bonus of possible calls to assist local teams. At this time in the Team's development, Stewart Hulse, the leader of Langdale Ambleside MRT at the time, and Tony Jones, then leader of Ogwen Valley MRT were especially supportive and encouraging.

The advent of the West Pennine Moors Recreation Area, coupled with the fruition of years of liaison meetings with the Lancashire and Greater Manchester Police Forces and the Lancashire and Greater Manchester Ambulance Services saw a dramatic rise in call out activity from 1994 onwards as the professional expertise and resources of the team were recognised on a wider basis. We can now expect upwards of 100 incidents attended by the team per year.

1999 also saw the team with its very first new vehicles - 2 Landrover 110" County Station Wagons and a Landrover 110" hardtop. The first two being first response vehicles and the hardtop van an Incident Support Unit. In Autumn 2003 the Team commissioned into service its fourth brand new Landrover, principally utilised as a personnel carrier.