Skiddaw House hostel. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Rescuers were called out to a remote Lakeland hostel to aid an exhausted competitor in a running event.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 7.35pm on Saturday after the man retired from an ultra trail race at Skiddaw House.

The youth hostel is 3½ miles from the nearest road, and stands 470m (1,542ft) above sea level between Skiddaw and Blencathra. It is only accessible on foot or by four-wheel-drive vehicle.

A team spokesperson said: “A small team in our Land Rover headed up to the hostel where he was being well looked after.

“On arrival, the event medics were in attendance and were able to evacuate him themselves. The team returned to base.”

Five Keswick MRT volunteers were involved in the incident, which lasted a little less than two hours.