The runner was rescued after getting stuck on Scafell's crags

A Lakeland challenge turned into an overnight ordeal for a woman on England’s second-highest mountain.

The runner had to be rescued from Scafell after spending the night stuck on crags while tackling the Bob Graham Round.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted after a group of Three Peaks Challenge walkers making an early ascent of Scafell Pike heard shouts for help and whistles coming from the Lord’s Rake area of the adjacent fell.

Sixteen team members turned out at 6.30am yesterday, Thursday, to help the woman. Richard Warren, chair of the volunteer team said: “The advance party headed up the fell with some crag gear and first-aid equipment while other team members brought up longer ropes and more equipment.

“Three members of the advance group climbed to her very exposed position. After a quick check-up to confirm she was OK with no injuries, a rope system was set up and she was lowered to much safer ground 30m [98ft] below.”

Mr Warren said she had used her torch through the night to try and raise the alarm but it was only in the early morning that the passing group of Three Peakers heard her shouts for help and whistles.

“The lady was attempting the Bob Graham Round, summiting the previous evening, but on her descent, looking for a quick descent down Rakehead Gully, ended up dropping down into Lord’s Rake from the Green How side and then descending the side of Red Gill and straying onto the crag,” he said.

“Staying put was a wise decision. The team has attended several very serious incidents around Red Gill.

“The casualty was also very well equipped; the fact that she was reported by the first group to enter Hollow Stones shows the importance of a whistle.

“The lady was well equipped for her night on the crag.”

The team then accompanied the walker back to Brackenclose and gave her a lift to Gosforth from where she took buses back to Keswick. The rescue took five hours.

The Bob Graham Round is a circuit of 42 Lake District fells, which have to be summited in 24 hours. The route traditionally starts and ends at Keswick’s Moot Hall and is considered one of the toughest fellrunning challenges in England.

It is named after the Keswick guest-house owner who first completed the round in 1932.