The trio strayed on to steep ground on Base Brown

Mountain rescuers had to use ropes to bring a group of walkers to safety after they got stuck on steep ground in the Lake District.

The trio missed the path on top of Base Brown in Borrowdale while walking yesterday.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 3.40pm. A team spokesperson said the walkers got on to unpleasant slippery ground from which they couldn’t retreat.

The spokesperson said: “As darkness fell, a local team member got to the scene quickly, but was unable to access it without a rope.

“The first vehicle arrived with the necessary equipment, and a rope system was set up to assist the walkers from their slippery plight, which took some time.

“They were then walked off the hill.”

The five-hour rescue involved 13 volunteer team members.

As the Keswick rescuers worked to bring the trio to safety, they were alerted to a family in difficulties Skiddaw.

A man with his two children, aged 12 and 15, was lost in darkness on the northern slopes of Skiddaw.

The man told rescuers he believed he was in the area of Bakestall, a 673m (2,205ft) outlier of the main Skiddaw peak.

The team spokesperson said: “Careful questioning by the controller seemed to confirm this.

“A small group of team members and two search dogs set off from the Dash Falls gate.

“They were located fairly swiftly by a team member about a third of the way down the ridge from Bakestall, above Dead Crags.

“With the application of some morale-boosting food and drink, they were able to walk down, and driven back into Keswick to find accommodation.”

The rescue, the team’s 87th of the year, involved 10 members.