MOUNTAIN rescuers were called out to assist a man and his two young children after their car became stuck in a ditch.
When rescuers arrived at the scene they found three other cars that had been abandoned on the icy road.
The Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) was asked to assist Lancashire Constabulary with the incident at Lythe Fell - on the road between High Bentham and Slaidburn - at around 2.30am on Thursday.
A CRO spokesman said the road was so icy that team members were forced to stop 200m short of the stranded family's car, which was partially in a ditch.
Also along the road was the AA breakdown cover van that had been called out to tow the car. Its driver was sleeping inside, having known that he would be unable to safely go anywhere before morning.
The stranded man and his young children were driven to High Bentham by CRO team members for onward transport by taxi.
The incident required 15 hours of volunteer time.
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