AN AMBLESIDE man had a narrow escape after stumbling and sinking up to his armpits in a bog while walking on the Lake District fells, reports Paul Duncan.

Nigel Wright, 50, had set out around the popular Fairfield Horseshoe with his wife Ann when, on the ascent from Low Pike to High Pike, his foot crashed through a crusty piece of earth to reveal a bog below and he quickly found himself knee-deep in slime.

Despite sinking into the bog he managed to keep his head and calmly attempted to free himself from the quagmire.

But even the slightest movement caused him to sink further and he quickly found himself up to his armpits and starting to become desperate.

Deputy leader of Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team Keith Morgan said that the team had been called out to rescue people from bogs in the past but incidents on the Fairfield Horseshoe were rare.

Mr Morgan blamed recent weather for the boggy conditions and recommended the use of walking poles as a means of testing the stability of the ground ahead.

Click on the link to Lakes Guide - Walking and Cycling for the interview and more.