WALKERS are urged to stay safe if they head for the hills this winter by mountain rescue volunteers who put their festive celebrations on hold to help injured hikers.

Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team went to three callouts in three days.

On Christmas Day, 18 volunteers helped North East Ambulance Service paramedics stabilise a casualty, who sustained a lower leg injury whilst walking along Hadrian’s Wall, and carry them to a waiting ambulance.

The Northern Echo:

On Christmas Eve, the teams were called to Rothbury to help a community paramedic stretcher a walker, who had hurt their leg, to a nearby ambulance.

And a day earlier, Northumbria Police called them out to the Harthope Valley, in Northumberland National Park, to help locate a lone walker who was lost in the Cheviots. As they arrived on scene, the walker confirmed that she had arrived at a house where the occupants offered her a lift back to her car.

The Northern Echo:

A spokesperson said: "With winter conditions very much present across the hills and fells, please remember to carry the necessary equipment for the conditions including a head torch, mobile phone and an emergency shelter."

Visit adventuresmart.uk for advice.