Two walkers were rescued from England’s highest mountain in hurricane-force winds last night.

The pair called rescue services after getting lost and benighted on Scafell Pike. Rescuers said the walkers had a Global Positioning System receiver but no map or torch.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted to the duo’s plight at 5.15pm yesterday, Sunday. 17 members of the team went to their aid and they were found three hours later.

The walkers were found near the 978m (3,209ft) summit of the mountain and escorted, uninjured, to safety.

Richard Warren, chairman of Wasdale MRT, said: “A gust with a windspeed of 73mph (117kph) was recorded on the mountain: hurricane force on the Beaufort Scale, and the heavy rain throughout the day had made the stream crossings extremely dangerous.”