EMERGENCY crews staged a dramatic three-hour rescue last night, to pull a stricken teenager out of a 100ft ravine.

Peterlee Fire Station's specially-trained rope rescue team were called to assist paramedics and police shortly after 4.30pm after the 15-year-old boy slipped about 12ft to the bottom of Castle Eden Dene, near Peterlee, in County Durham.

The youngster, who lives locally but has asked not to be named, was thought to have been attempting to retrieve something he had spotted at the bottom of the ravine, when he lost his footing during the descent and broke his leg.

Station Officer Alan Wray, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade's press officer, said more than 17 firefighters, mainly from Peterlee, joined other emergency staff as part of the rescue.

"They managed to get down, but couldn't get him out of the ravine," he said.

After being strapped to a stretcher, the youth - with two firefighters roped to his side - were all hauled up by six more rescuers at the top.

His anxious parents were waiting at the side of the ravine.

He was taken by stretcher a quarter of a mile out of the woods to a waiting Land Rover, then driven to an ambulance and taken to Hartlepool General Hospital.

Police said later that he was shaken and had suffered a broken leg and head injuries, but was not believed to be seriously hurt.

Sergeant Andrew Reay, of Peterlee Police, said: "He had been playing with friends and just seems to have lost his footing and fallen to the bottom of the ravine.

"It was a maze of footpaths and very difficult to get to. It was only his friends who pointed a way through for a paramedic, at first, and then the emergency fire crew, to reach him.

"He was there for quite a while. He remained conscious throughout, but was quite distressed and shocked."