A LONE hiker who got lost after taking a wrong turn high in the North Pennines was rescued after giving a description of the scenery over his mobile phone.

The man, in his fifties, dialled 999 after realising he was lost while walking the Pennine Way at the weekend.

Police called out the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team from its base in Barnard Castle.

Team members rang the hiker back. He had no idea where he was, but they asked him to describe the hills and valleys he could see. From what he said, they worked out that he was probably at Scordale Head, about 6km from where he should have been - and their calculation proved correct.

They asked for the Durham police helicopter to be sent, and the man was quickly found. He was airlifted to the car park at Cow Green reservoir to meet his rescuers.

Dave Bartles-Smith, team leader, said: "From the description he gave of the scenery we felt he was at Scordale Head, and fortunately this proved to be the case. The helicopter got to him quickly."

He hiker, who has not been named, was checked over by the team's casualty carer before being driven to Barnard Castle. He thanked the police and team volunteers profusely before setting off for home.

Team spokesman Steve Owers said, "A number of hikers have taken a wrong turn on the Pennine Way and ended up at Scordale Head. This man gave a good description of the scenery so they quickly realised where he was."