Search and rescue teams from across the region descended on Thetford Forest at the weekend for a special training exercise led by a world expert in navigation.

Lowland search and rescue teams from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and the National Search and Rescue Dog Association for Anglia brushed up on their satellite navigation skills at Mundford with the help of Lyle Brotherton, who has trained search and rescue volunteers and professionals across the world.

The instructor and author of the Ultimate Navigation Manual spent two days training the 25 volunteers who help the police to search lowland areas when people go missing.

Paul Morris, from the Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue Team, said they were thrilled that the instructor had given up his time for free to help them learn advanced navigation techniques.

'This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have Lyle here and someone of his calibre. It is important because we do not just have the best in the country here, but it is important for the different teams to practice together and share best practice,' he said.

The Suffolk lowland team, who are all volunteers, were called to assist the police in searches on 50 occasions last year.

Mr Brotherton added that the volunteers were an invaluable service to police forces because of their local knowledge and their training to work as a team. He added that handheld Sat Nav devices had revolutionised search and rescue operations in recent years.