The walker was rescued near to Tongue Scar, right. Photo: Tom Richardson CC-BY-SA-2.0

An injured walker directed rescuers to his position by flashing his torch during a 6½-hour night-time operation.

Rescuers said it emphasised the need to carry a torch when on the fells, even in summer.

The walker was reported missing after failing to return to his accommodation from the Kentmere Horseshoe in the Lake District yesterday.

Kendal Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 11pm and immediately mounted a search for the lone walker, who had set out to tackle the route about 3pm.

A team Land Rover made its way to Kentmere Reservoir while two search teams began clockwise and anticlockwise sweeps of the fells on the horseshoe route, which includes Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, Thornthwaite Crag, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts.

A Kendal MRT spokesperson said: “After a short while we were able to see a light flashing on the hillside and taking bearings on this from various locations allowed us to get a good fix on the position – another good reason for taking a torch with you.

“The walker had strayed off the path on to difficult craggy ground in the vicinity of Tongue Scar and had sustained a nasty laceration to his leg.

“He was able to walk off with team members to one of our Land Rovers close to the reservoir from where he was transported to hospital in Kendal for treatment to his leg before being returned to his accommodation.”

The team then had to carry out its second rescue of the night: one of its Land Rovers, which had got stuck high on the Garburn Pass while dropping off one of the search parties.

The spokesperson said: “A bit of tugging and winching from a second Land Rover seemed to do the trick.”

The rescue ended at 5.30am.