The Lake District's mountain rescue teams can now return to their main duties on the fells

Cumbria’s mountain rescue teams are now back on duty to come to the aid of stricken walkers, climbers and mountaineers after spending the last six days helping the flood-hit residents and visitors during the record-breaking deluge.

Police yesterday appealed to hillwalkers to stay off the fells as the 12 rescue teams in the Lake District were all on standby to rescue flood victims. Now, the volunteer rescue teams have stood down from their readiness after the district escaped further inundation in last night’s heavy rains.

A spokesman for the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, said: “Team members have now had time to ready their equipment and infrastructure and are now responding to mountain rescues on the fells in the normal way.”