A team member rescues the lamb. Photo: Woodhead MRT

Mountain rescuers were called out to help what they termed a ‘woolly jumper’ and a Good Samaritan teenager.

Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team was alerted on Sunday after a lamb was reported to be stuck on a remote quarry ledge near Digley in West Yorkshire, on the edge of the Peak District national park.

The team was at the scene less than half an hour after being notified by a member of the public who had noticed the agitated lamb while out walking.

A team spokesperson said: “On arrival at the quarry the lamb was located 60ft up on a precarious ledge.

“However, there was a twist. A local teenager who had been out walking noticed the lamb and climbed the rock face to try and help. Unfortunately, the lamb had other ideas and had no interest in the teenager’s help, ultimately evading capture.

“Given the wet and slippery location of the ledge and rock face the teenager was also unable to get down.”

Rescuers rigged up a belay and a team member abseiled down the quarry face. The spokesperson said: “After a tense stand-off leading to a strategic dance around the ledge the lamb was captured, secured in a rescue harness and lowered to safety.

“The Woodhead team member then climbed the slippy rock face to rescue his second casualty, the teenager, also lowering him to safety.

“Thankfully, both the teenager and the lamb were uninjured in the incident.”

The lamb is brought to safety. Photo: Woodhead MRT

Team member Scott Roberts added: “It was an unusual call. Although we have been called out to incidents like this before generally when we arrive the animal has decided it doesn’t need rescuing after all and has moved on.

“However, to arrive and find the lamb on the ledge unable to get down and with a teenage boy sat beside it was definitely a new one for us.

“It was a very difficult location to access and the guys had to crawl through bramble bushes to get access.

“As you can imagine the team member who conducted the rescue has received a bit of stick from the other guys in the team given the nature of the rescue.

“However, on a serious note if members of the public do find animals in situations such as this they should not try and rescue the animal themselves and they should call the emergency services.

“Had the teenager fallen from that position he could have been seriously injured.”