Helvellyn. Swirral Edge is centre right of picture, above Red Tarn

Two winter climbers had to be rescued earlier today after getting stuck.

The pair, from West Yorkshire, were attempting a gully on Helvellyn when they became cragfast. 17 mountain rescue team members and an RAF Sea King helicopter went to the mountaineers’ aid.

Police alerted the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team to the climbers’ plight today, Saturday.

A spokesman for the team said: “The two were climbing in winter conditions but reached a point where they could neither ascend nor descend.

“After some searching, the two climbers were eventually located and team members ascended up a snow gully to their location. One of the pair was lowered down the face to easier ground while the other ascended and was brought off the hill via Swirral edge.”

Two members of the Penrith Mountain Rescue Team who happened to be in the area helped the operation, which involved 15 Patterdale rescuers.