ON Thursday night the Patterdale Mountain Rescue team were forced to assist careless dog walkers on Dove Crag.

The pair of dog walkers were ill equipped for their ascent of the crag, which lies around halfway between Grasmere and Glenridding, taking no compass or torch with them despite the nights drawing in.

Patterdale MRT were dispatched to Dove Crag in the dark to assist the walkers and their dogs off the fell.

The team noted that if the pair had taken the appropriate equipment, in this case a torch and compass to deal with the fading light and low hanging clouds, they would have had little issue getting back off the crag.

Patterdale MRT advised people to always make sure that they have the appropriate gear when setting off on a walk, especially at this time of year when bad weather can come from nowhere and the sun is down by late afternoon.

They also stated that if the pair couldn't get a mobile phone signal, this could have turned out very differently.