A search and rescue charity on the front line during last year’s Marlow floods says it is feeling the strain as police cuts mean it is more likely to be called upon in an emergency.

Bucks Search and Rescue (BSAR) fears it may be overwhelmed this winter with the closure of Thames Valley Police’s Specialist Search and Recovery Team, announced last month by Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld.

The search and rescue charity, which assists police and helped evacuate flood-hit homes on Pound Lane in February, is manned entirely by volunteers who receive special training.

Search manager Brian Bristow said: "We are coming to the critical time of year, there is more and more coming in, and with cutbacks with police there will be even more.

"It will definitely be a stretch. They’re (police) talking about shutting down that unit and installing somebody with minimal experience into police stations.

"We are not on a shift system, we are on call 24/7, we will keep going until the job is done so it can be very difficult."

Mr Stansfeld said he regretted the move to scrap the eight-strong police search team, which was deployed in the desperate attempt to save tragic Marlow teenager Kyrece Francis from the Thames in July. 

But the axe fell as the force tries to deliver £45million in savings over the next three years.

TVP says it will now call on other police teams or the military to help in a crisis, and officers have not ruled out using private companies for emergency tasks.

BSAR has supported police in specialist missions since it was established in 1987, and has a pool of volunteers - trained in emergency procedures and First Aid - ready to assist the full time emergency services in the event of a major incident.

The group is currently on yellow alert for storms in the county, and Mr Bristow said although he hopes there is not a repeat of last year's flooding, BSAR plans for a major event every few years.

And despite £8m of funding now available or Marlow's long awaited Flood Alleviation scheme, he said BSAR will remain on alert as the protection from the floodwalls is unlikely to kick in until later this decade.

The charity relies on donations to continue, but has been given a boost after Chancellor George Osborne announced groups such as BSAR now qualify for exemption on VAT for equipment they buy.

And the group has been buoyed with a £1376 donation after Lane End based artists group Wycombe Court Artists sponsored the charity during its winter art sale.

Mr Bristow said they hope to use the cash to purchase a much needed quick erect tent to provide cover for search members between search areas.

He said: "We’re very happy to receive it, we’re over the moon as we’re always desperate for funds.

"We need the accommodation to give members refreshment and shelter, a lot of other groups have them but we’re lagging behind."

For more information and donations visit www.bsar.org.co.uk