Lingcove Beck and Crinkle Crags. Photo: Andrew Hill

Mountain rescuers in Cumbria were in action searching for lost walkers, just hours after mounting a checkpoint to warn hikers of the need to go properly equipped on the fells.

More than 40 members of mountain rescue teams led a major search for walkers lost in Upper Eskdale in the Lake District after five of a larger party were reported overdue on Saturday. Earlier, Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team had handed out advice to walkers who were heading for the hills from Great Langdale.

Despite the later callout, the mountain checkpoint was deemed a success. Nick Owen, leader of the Langdale and Ambleside MRT said: “The forecast was poor and the weather turned out to be pretty horrible, but we did speak to a couple of dozen walkers at Stickle Barn car park.

“They were mostly well equipped and well prepared. We gave out a few whistles to some younger walkers who didn’t have them and film crews from the BBC and ITV were there.

“It certainly generated a lot of interest and a lot of publicity. My argument is that ten minutes spent talking in the morning can save three hours in the evening.”

Twelve team members were joined that day by similar numbers from the Wasdale team and Duddon and Furness team, along with six handlers and animals from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association when five walkers were reported lost in the Crinkle Crags area.

Mr Owen said: “A party of ten decided to split up at Great Knott. The faster group got as far as Three Tarns and came down The Band.”

By 6.30pm, they reported that some of their group, which included people aged between 11 and 69, had not returned to their car.

“We then got a really broken call saying two people were sheltering in a tent near Lingcove Beck,” Mr Owen said.

A farmer in Brotherilkeld then rang to say the rest of the party had turned up there.

Mr Owen continued: “We took the decision that the two walkers were better staying in the warmth of the tent at Lingcove Beck than trying to get down off the fell in the rain and strong winds.”

The camping party consisted of about 15 people and was well organised, he said. The two were able to make their way off the fell the following day.

Last winter, rescuers put up signs in Langdale warning that unusually wintery conditions demanded proper winter equipment in knowledge, including crampons and ice-axes. The MRT leader said they had no plans at the moment to repeat the exercise, because the signs were erected in response to a return to snow and ice in the Lake District that hadn’t been seen for years.

However, he said, the rescue team would consider reintroducing them if conditions dictated.