Cribyn. Photo: afcone CC-BY-ND-2.0

Two walkers had to be rescued after losing their way in heavy rain and low cloud.

The men, from Hereford and Bristol, called 999 from the summit of Cribyn in the Brecon Beacons on Saturday.

The pair rang at 8.40pm, saying they were lost on the 795m (2,608ft) mountain and their compass was faulty.

The 22- and 24-year old set up camp on the mountain summit and waited for rescue.

A major search lasting four hours and involving 44 volunteers from three mountain rescue teams, along with two handlers and animals from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association, found the men and brought them to safety.

The Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, was joined by members of the Central Beacons MRT and Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team.

Nigel Dawson, team leader of Brecon MRT, said: “The two lads were well equipped and did the right thing. Conditions were difficult but when our team found them they had set up camp to protect themselves from the worst of the elements.

“We were able to walk them off the mountain in the early hours of Sunday morning, and after they had been checked over by our medic and given hot drinks, they made their own way home.

“They had only set out on a day walk, but this incident shows just how easy it is for even the most well equipped to be caught out in the Brecon Beacons.”