Bill Bailey, centre, with Tiger and Cockermouth team members after being reunited at Dubs. Photo: Cockermouth MRT

A dog belonging to a celebrity visitor to the Lake District led rescuers on a chase across the fells in an attempt to capture it.

Tiger, belonging to television comedian and musician Bill Bailey, went missing on the mountains above Buttermere yesterday.

The dog managed to escape capture for a couple of hours as volunteers from Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team tried to round it up.

A team spokesperson said: “Our fearless team leader fell foul of a tiger.

“The team was called out at 6pm to assist in the search for a missing Tiger with an, er, sore snout.

“Mike Park led the search and discovered first ‘hand’ what it’s like to stare a Tiger directly in the eye and try to capture it, which he did with aplomb, even managing to, er, apply a bandage, after performing a quick dental checkup on the unfortunate creature.

“Having found the teeth to be perfectly sharp, the team then returned the Tiger to its owners.”

Mr Park’s efforts were repaid with a flesh wound to his hand.

Team member Steve Brailey said the chase went across Hay Stacks towards Honister. Tiger was eventually cornered near the Dubs Hut between the fell and Honister Slate Mine, and reunited with Mr Bailey, who had been walking the fells with friends and family when the dog went missing.

Team members with the captured Tiger. Photo: Cockermouth MRT

Mr Brailey said: “The main part of the evening was spent with the dog – I wouldn’t say leading us a merry dance – but we were trying to get it, not cornered, but getting people around it. It kept moving and moving across the fells with our guys running across the fells trying to keep up with it.

“Eventually, it tired and our team leader managed to get hold of it with a couple of other team members.”

Mr Brailey pointed out that animal rescues are not unusual for the Cockermouth team. He said: “In fact it’s in our constitution. Over the years we’ve rescued many many dogs and sheep, but also goats, a horse and raven from a crag.”

Bill Bailey is a supporter of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, International Animal Rescue, the Sumatran Orangutan Society and Bali Bird Park, among other charities.