A RIVER rescue team that saves people from drowning in waters across Worcestershire has been left in a state of chaos after a revolt from some its members.

About eight volunteers resigned from Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue (MISAR), with one member taking all of the radio equipment.

The move has cost the charity thousands of pounds and meant the crew cannot attend incidents - a situation which team manager David Walker said was less than ideal on a weekend when the effects of thunderstorms and torrential rain were still being felt across the county.

"It's caused a bit of a blip at the moment but we are getting it resolved quite quickly I have to say," he said.

"We had a difficultly where some of the crew wanted to go in a particular direction, which is not uncommon in a voluntary organisation."

Mr Walker said he had not expected one of the departing members to take the radio equipment after members were voted out at last Thursday's meeting.

"He had been given the equipment from a company that was getting rid of it so it came at no cost to him, but still, that's a lesson we have learned," he said.

"It's just come at an unfortunate time. As you can imagine we were not over the moon about it."

Mr Walker said MISAR has now strengthened its rules and regulations concerning donated equipment to ensure members cannot take it with them if they leave.

He said the crew - which is based at Upton Marina and covers the river Severn, river Avon and river Wye in conjunction with the fire service - should be back on the water by Thursday after an agreement was struck with Mercia Radiotelephones to replace the equipment.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: "We have been, and always will be responsible for water safety and river rescues.

"MISAR has been accredited as an adjunct to our emergency services and for whatever reason they are not able to provide that at the moment, but we will continue to provide a service for those in distress on the water."

The brigade has four boats in its fleet with two based at Worcester, one at Evesham and one at Hereford.