The women were found on the slopes of Slight Side, left

Two women were rescued after spending the night lost on the Scafell Pike range.

A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter and a Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dog handler and animal joined Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team in the hunt for the walkers.

The pair had set off for Scafell Pike yesterday evening as part of a group of five, but took a different route and wandered on to the adjacent mountain Scafell.

Richard Warren of the rescue team said: “At around 10.30pm last night a 999 call was received by Cumbria Police from a concerned husband.

“His group of five had set off to climb Scafell Pike late Monday afternoon.

A dog and handler and a Sea King from HMS Gannet joined the search. Photo: Wasdale MRT

“When they arrived at the path junction in Hollow Stones just after 5pm that afternoon the father and two sons headed for the summit via Mickledore while the wife and sister, in their late 40s and late 50s, decided to take the easier route via Lingmell Col.

“The plan was to meet on the summit but the two ladies were not seen again.

“When contacted by the police the team leader decided to wait until first light before calling the full team out as many manage to walk out early in the morning.

“The couple who were fit and well had been to the summit then made a navigational error and headed down into Eskdale and came to a halt on steep ground.

“They had mobile contact with the team leader but had been unable to give sufficient information to locate their position sufficiently for a night-time search or be safely talked off the mountain.

Mountain rescuers at the scene. Photo: Wasdale MRT

“They were eventually found at 8.45am by team members.

“They were tired, cold and hungry but had managed to keep their spirits up until they were located on the southern slopes of Slight Side, below Scafell.”

The 13 members of the Wasdale team were aided in the search by the dog and handler and a helicopter from HMS Gannet in Ayrshire.

Mr Warren added: “Walkers are reminded to take sufficient clothing, equipment and food for emergency situations such as this and also to keep together especially in groups with limited navigation skill.

“The two ladies had a map and compass but the potential knowledge was with the other sub-group.”