VOLUNTEER mountain rescuers were kept busy over Christmas.

In the most serious callout Coniston's team was sent to the aid of a young man who had fallen more than 100ft, suffering serious injuries.

The incident unfolded around lunchtime on Christmas Eve on Coniston Old Man.

Walkers were able to go to his immediate aid and assist the team in identifying their exact position, below Grey Crag, above Coppermines Valley.

Two Land Rovers were deployed and due to the relatively close vicinity of the incident to the main tourist track, personnel were soon on scene. The GNAA (Great North Air Ambulance) also attended. The casualty as given pain relief and once stable, was placed in a vacuum mattress, and stretchered off the fell side to the helicopter.

The young man was then flown to Preston Royal Infirmary.

A total of 14 team members responded to this call out which took more than two hours.

The team was called again around 5.30pm after a female walker was unable to descend Coniston Old Man due to a medical condition.

After speaking to her partner the team was advised that they could make it to the Walna Scar track from Goats Water.

Two vehicles left the base and were able to drive most of the way to the location. On reaching the casualty on foot, she was made comfortable on the stretcher and taken to the Land Rover. She was then driven to their car and once settled, they were able to follow the Land Rover back down the icy road into the village, when they went on their way.

Seventeen team members attended this incident which took one hour and 20 minutes.

And on Christmas Day volunteers from the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team were called to what they described as an 'avoidable incident'.

A man was unable to find his way down from Bowfell after the battery on his phone, his only means of navigation, went flat. He was located using SARLOC, which tracks GPS, and by three team members and then escorted off the hill.