The group got lost near High Cup Nick

Six lost walkers were airlifted from a Pennine fell after a major night-time search.

Four other members of the group managed to walk to safety and raise the alarm by mobile phone.

Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team was alerted yesterday evening and mounted a search for the walkers in the northern Pennines.

Steve Owers, deputy team leader said: “Around 9pm we received a call that a party of 10 walkers was lost somewhere between Cow Green and High Cup Nick in a remote area of the Pennines.

“One of the party had an injured ankle and was unable to walk any further.”

The rescue involved 16 members of the Teesdale and Weardale team and six other members of other teams in the region who were attending a mountain rescue course, along with officers from Durham police.

Mr Owers said: “Four members of the missing party managed to walk out to Cow Green where they were able to get mobile phone communications.

“They were initially unsure where the rest of the party were but after speaking with a team member we were able to establish a possible location 5km (3 miles) west of Cow Green dam. It took team members another hour to find the six missing walkers.

“They were all very cold and one had an ankle injury.

“After they were all rewarmed they were flown to the Cow Green car park by a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer.”