Walkers urged to rethink plans in 'extreme' winds
WASDALE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMFell walkers have been urged to rethink their Easter plans as Cumbria braces for "extreme" conditions caused by Storm Dave.
A yellow weather warning for wind for Cumbria comes in at 14:00 BST through to Sunday, with the Mountain Weather Information Service warning "gusts could blow you over even at mid-heights" and predicted gusts of 70-80mph (113-129 km/h) on higher fells.
Richard Warren, from Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (WMRT), said his colleagues had a "pretty horrendous night" on Thursday rescuing two teenagers and a couple in two "mammoth" rescues near Scafell Pike.
Warren advised people to choose "low level walks" in "such extreme situations".
Meanwhile Keswick Mountain Rescue Team warned conditions on the fells would be "challenging and potentially dangerous".
Warren said two calls came through at about 20:00 on Thursday.
He described the first, in which 24 volunteers from three teams were sent out to help two teenagers who had got lost on Scafell Pike, as "demanding".
WASDALE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMThe second involved a young couple who were lost and "and stuck in snow" near the same summit.
Warren said a helicopter was called in from Prestwick in Ayrshire but had to turn back because of the weather conditions.
"That was another mammoth rescue, with 27 team members out early in the morning," he continued.
"The pair got lucky... it could have been a tragic outcome," Warren said, adding that it was "pretty horrendous night".
