The hoax caller prompted a two-hour search at Creswell Crags. Photo: Andrew Hill CC-BY-SA-2.0

A man has been ordered to pay £90 for making a hoax call that led to a two-hour search of a climbing area by a mountain rescue team.

The 23-year-old from Creswell in Derbyshire was given a fixed penalty for making the 999 call and wasting police time on Sunday 15 June.

Derbyshire Constabulary said the man claimed his friend had fallen at Creswell Crags, that he was stuck and in a lot of pain from his head and back.

Police officers and Derby Mountain Rescue Team members went to the area and carried out a two-hour search, but no injured person was found. They also spoke to other visitors who had not seen anyone fall in the area.

Inspector Frank Burns said: “A hoax call such as this has the potential to divert resources away from a real emergency, and those who are in genuine need of help.

“People should only call 999 when they need the police on an urgent basis, where there is risk to life or property or where the offenders are still at or near to the scene of a crime.

“We will always take action against anyone found to be making hoax calls to the emergency services.”