Life brigade not closing

A rescue team has rubbished fraudulent claims a charity was closing down after 140 years of serving Sunderland.

The Echo sought more details from Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade (SVLB) after receiving a letter purporting to be from its company and charity secretary which stated it was with “sadness and regret” it was shutting.

But its leaders say the claims are untrue and are now carrying out inquiries in the hope of tracing the hoaxer, who used the SVLB’s crest and the address of its Watch HouseatPierView,Roker,on the letter.

The brigade, at this time, is in training and not operational, with 11 members due to undergo an assessment by HM Coastguard in March.

Once the volunteers pass, the charity and company will be put on a pager system and assist the emergency services and other charities in helping people who use the city’s beaches, port and harbour.

Rose Roberts, the secretary–whosenamewasatthe foot of the letter along with a fake signature – said after seeing the note: “We would never put a letterhead like that and that is certainly not my signature on the letter.

“I can’t think why somebody would have done this.

“Last year we had a lot at the life brigade take jobs outside of the area, so unfortunately we had to suspend rescues, but full training is under way and shortly we will be assessed and after that we will be operational.

“Until then we can only offer a limited service, but we will still very much be a search and rescue team and will continue on.”

The charity has its own website www.sunderlandvlb.com and a Facebook page.

Some of the 11 members of Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade, which is in training to become operational in the spring, and, inset, the Watch House’s museum, which is closed for the winter.