Cross Fell

A walker on the Pennine Way was rescued from the fells after a  major overnight search involving more than 50 volunteers.

Mountain rescue teams from Cumbria, Durham, Swaledale, Cleveland and Northumberland spent the night looking for the lone walker Tom Miles, 32, of London, who failed to make a contact point. His family raised the alarm at 11.30pm and he was found almost 10 hours later on Cross Fell, the highest point in the Pennines.

A Sea King helicopter from RAF  Boulmer and a police helicopter were also involved in the search for Mr Miles, which saw rescue teams on the ground facing freezing conditions and five-foot snowdrifts.

Durham County Council snow-clearing crews were called in to clear roads in the Langdale Beck area to allow the search to start.

The walker had set off from Langdon Beck Hotel on Sunday morning for a route in Upper Teesdale, heading for Dufton, but is believed to have got lost. He spent two nights on the fells, sheltering in a grouse butt.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “The walker was located at 9 a.m. this morning after he was able to get out a call on his mobile phone. He was airlifted out of a point near Cross Fell, the highest point on the Pennines and taken to Cumbria.”

The spokesperson said it Mr Miles is not believed to be injured.