The walkers told rescuers they had passed the stretcher box at Sty Head

A couple who got lost while coming down England’s highest mountain were faced with a taxi bill of £110 to get themselves back to their base.

The pair, from Scotland, called for help when they got lost yesterday while descending Scafell Pike.

Members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were alerted at 7.15pm by police and they talked to the walkers to try to find out where they were.

Mike Gullen of the Wasdale team said: “They had left the Old Dungeon Ghyll [in Great Langdale] in the morning, climbed Scafell Pike and then on the return the cloud came down.

“After some discussion we established that they had taken a wrong turn at Esk Hause and walked down towards Sty Head Tarn. During the conversation they said that they had walked passed a stretcher box at Sty Head.

“Unfortunately the pair had set off without a torch. We mounted a limited call and two team members walked up to Sty Head and walked them back to Wasdale.

“We arranged a taxi for the pair to take them back to Langdale which cost them £110!”

The team urged people to go properly equipped, even though daylight hours are getting longer.

“During this time of year the nights are getting lighter. However, we would always recommend that you carry a torch at all times when out and about in the hills.

“Being fully in control of your situation at all times is very important.

“This was an avoidable callout which could have been avoided if torches had been carried.”

The rescue by the volunteer team took more than three hours.