Mountain rescuers from Kendal were called out to the Witherslack area in the small hours of Saturday, July 31, to help a man lost on his way home from a party.

The unidentified 32-year-old man from Berkshire dialled 999 and told police he was lost on a "mountain" and asked for rescue. According to police the man was fairly "incoherent".

"It was a very strange call out," said Eddie Harrison, deputy leader of Kendal Mountain Rescue Team, who was one of five rescuers and a search dog who answered the call at around 1.30am.

He explained how he spoke to the lost man by mobile phone and that the team were eventually able to find him when he told them he could see the blue lights of their rescue vehicle as it made its way along the A590.

"It was very strange. He said he was lost and that his torch was failing and he was a bit wet but it was a very dry and clear night."

When they found him his torch was bright and as the team approached him in the dark he gave "quite precise" directions to where he was.

Rescuers eventually found the man, whom they described as "inebriated", on Dixon Heights, beside the A590. He had a good working torch with him and said he was camping nearby.

"The impression we got was that he was quite safe and seemed to know his way around," said Mr Harrison.

When the team offered him a lift back to the campsite he declined and walked away.

Mr Harrison said: "We are always ready to come out to help if someone is lost, but people should stop and think carefully about their situation and whether they really need a mountain rescue team before they dial 999."

Mr Harrison's advice to anyone walking at night was to be able to navigate properly and carry a good torch. "Even the most familiar paths can appear very different at night," he said.