A couple of walkers paid dear for getting lost in the Lakes yesterday, after descending to the wrong valley in the dark with the aid of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.

'We were contacted by Cumbria Police at around 19:15 regarding a couple lost on Scafell Pike' says spokesman Mike Gullen on the team's website. 'The Team Leader contacted the pair from Scotland to try and establish their whereabouts. They had left the Old Dungeon Ghyll in the morning, climbed Scafell Pike and then on the return the cloud came down. After some discussion we established that they had taken a wrong turn at Esk Hause and walked down towards Sty Head Tarn. During the conversation they said that they had walked past a Stretcher Box (Sty Head). Unfortunately the pair had set off without a torch. We mounted a limited call and two team members walked up to Sty Head and walked them back to Wasdale. We arranged a taxi for the pair to take them back to Langdale which cost them £110!!!'

'During this time of year the nights are getting lighter, however we would always recommend that you carry a torch at all times when out and about in the hills. Being fully in control of your situation at all times is very important. This callout could have been avoided if torches had been carried.'