Walkers are being urged to be prepared on Kinder Scout after a series of rescues.

Eight people have called on emergency services in two days after becoming lost on the Peak District plateau. One man was located only when he flashed his camera at a searching helicopter.

The Kinder Scout summit plateau 

A map, compass, torch, food and drink are essential for those venturing on to Kinder, which rescuers says can be confusing even for experienced walkers.

“Kinder needs to be treated with respect,” said Neale Pinkerton, deputy leader of Kinder Mountain Rescue Team, which led six men, aged 18 to 21, to safety after becoming disorientated on Tuesday on the bleak peak. Buxton and Edale teams were also involved, along with dogs from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association.

The previous day, Wolverhampton man Hardeep Sahejpal, aged 27, called emergency services about 4.30pm after he and a walking companion became stranded in freezing conditions and failing light. Attempts to guide him down by directing him via his mobile phone failed, and a helicopter was scrambled.

After firing his camera flash, the helicopter homed in on the pair. Mr Sahejpal admitted he had only a broken compass and a map downloaded from the Internet. He said he had met several other walkers on the summit plateau who were lost.