An RAF rescue team and an intrepid fell runner came to the aid of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team when a training exercise had depleted their numbers.

Their second callout of the year so far, the mountain rescue team were raised on Sunday afternoon after passers-by reported to police that two people had become stuck on Tarn Crag, near the summit of Blencathra.

The rescue team were alerted at just after 4pm, and immediately set off to the area, which was beset with snow.

A spokesman for the team explained that one of the two people stuck on Tarn Crag then called to say that they were not injured, but were "without suitable equipment, so were unable to move on steep and snowy ground".

At the time of the callout, a number of the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team members were on a winter training exercise in the Cairngorms in Scotland.

To support the Keswick team, members of the RAF Mountain Rescue Team, based at the Leeming station in North Yorkshire but in the area on that day, were called in to help.

A fell runner who was close by had also raced to the scene, staying with the stranded pair until the mountain rescue teams arrived.

Once the rescue team found the stuck walkers, they helped them back down the fell.

A spokesman for the Keswick team added: "Keswick team members returning from the Cairngorms spotted mountain rescue team lights above Mousethwaite Comb and asked if further help was required, but fortunately, after a full day on the hill and a 4.5 hour drive, this offer was turned down."

"Many thanks to RAF Leeming, and the fell runner."