The biker's body was found on Lonscale Fell. Photo: Gareth Jones CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain biker has died after falling on a Lake District mountain.

The 60-year-old was reported missing in the early hours of today after failing to return from a trip on Skiddaw.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 1.50am and team members began a search of the fell, along with six handlers and animals from Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs.

Rescuers concentrated their search on the area between Dash Falls, Skiddaw House and Keswick.

A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “The missing man’s body was found after 2½ hours, by a search dog attached to Patterdale MRT, 60m down a steep rocky gully close to Lonscale Fell.

“He had obviously fallen a long way and had suffered multiple fatal injuries.

“His bike was found fairly close to a rocky path section on Lonscale Fell which is notoriously slippery when wet, which has led to previous accidents.

“The team had to set up a lowering system to recover his body 400m down to the track below, at which point he could be handed over to the relevant authorities.”

The 5½-hour rescue operation involved 12 Keswick MRT members.

In June last year, Michael Farthing of Penrith died after falling 200m, from a track in the Glenderaterra valley, below Lonscale Fell.

The 64-year-old’s body was spotted by walkers on a steep, rocky section of path.