Father's determination to see a replacement

The van, which was bought recently by the Community Rescue Service (CRS) following a huge fundraising initiative, was unveiled in August to mark the first anniversary of the death of 14-year-old James Elliott.

James' body was recovered from the River Bush after he jumped into the water to save a pet dog near Stranocum.

The 50,000 rescue vehicle, believed to have already been used on five occasions in the search for missing people, was discovered burnt out in Ballymoney on Saturday morning.

Speaking to the Times Clive Elliott said his family reacted with "utter disbelief" upon hearing about the arson attack.

Mr Elliott, along with his wife Margaret and daughter, Sara, have been instrumental in raising funds for the vehicle, meant as a legacy to James following the efforts of the CRS in last year's search.

Margaret and Sara are now both volunteers with the CRS.

Mr Elliott said: "When I drove up to see it my heart just sank. I was totally lost for words that someone could do this.

"I thought, 'There is a vehicle that is there to help people and someone has burnt it to the ground'. I just can't understand it."

Mr Elliott said he would like the perpetrators to see the "pain" they have caused to his family.

"I would like them to see a family in need that has benefited from the vehicle. Now it has been destroyed the facility has been taken away from the CRS. They have actually hurt the capacity of the rescue service to do its job and it would be very hard for someone to justify themselves doing that."

Mr Elliott insisted the family are adamant that a suitable replacement be found as soon as possible.

"After the initial shock, the first thought that we had was that we are going to have to get another vehicle.

"After a year's hard effort from the whole community, it's not going to beat us. We'll pick up the pieces and we'll get another vehicle. It is so important to the efforts of the rescue service to have a facility like that."