Nick Smith and Zak not only reached the coveted grade of "Operational Search Dog" with flying colours , but their outstanding performance also won a special trophy not awarded to any other dog unit since 2001.

Conditions for the assessment in the Lake District were difficult, but Nick and Zak performed so well in all their areas that they were awarded the Novice Team Shield.

Nick said: "This is thanks to the support I have received from my own team, the other dog-handlers in SARDA and the fantastic bunch of people who are willing to give up their time to lie on the moors in the wet and cold so we can train."

A Buxton Team spokesman said: "To be awarded the Novice Shield by his peers is fantastic".

The SARDA Dog Teams attached to Buxton MRT attended 22 incidents in 2009, and have already been called out twice this year. They not only search for missing walkers, but provide valuable assistance to the Police in searching for missing vulnerable adults and children.

Nick and Zak, a three-year-old merle collie, join two existing Search Dog Teams in Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, Malcolm Bowyer with Search Dog Cap and Dave Mason with Search Dog Megan.

Nick said: "In the Peak District SARDA handlers get great support from the farming community and organisations like the National Park and the National Trust for which we are very grateful. Without regular access to large areas of moorland we wouldn't be able to train."