Rescuers bring the stranded walkers to safety. Photo: Keswick MRT

A group of walkers had to be led to safety after getting into difficulties on a Lake District mountain.

The four were unable to leave the summit of Glaramara as two of them could not negotiate an icy step off a knoll on the 783m (2,569ft) fell.

The group then became cold as night fell.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 4.15pm on Monday and one of the team’s dog handlers set off from his home in Borrowdale to help them, and a small group of rescuers went down the valley to support the operation to bring the walkers from the fell.

A team spokesperson said: “By the time the search dog handler arrived at their location, the group was very cold.

“It took some time to evacuate them down to Mountain View. They had probably underestimated the difficulty and physical demand of the route in the prevailing icy conditions.”

Other team members initially stood by in case there was a need for more help but it was not required.

The team ensured the walkers reached their transport safely and then stood down.

The rescue lasted almost 3¾ hours and involved nine Keswick MRT volunteers, along with eight more who stood by at their base for half an hour.