Fell walkers out of hospital

The women were found four miles from Scafell

Two women walkers who were at the centre of a mountain rescue search in the Lake District have been discharged from hospital.

Angela Jacks, 40, and Margaret Bishop, 35, both from Lancashire, were found at lunchtime on Tuesday after spending the night near Hardknott Pass.

The pair made an emergency call late Monday afternoon after becoming lost near Scafell Pike.

One of the women was treated at the Cumberland Infirmary for a broken ankle and both were kept in overnight with mild hypothermia.

Tell friends where you are heading and leave some details of your route

John Dempster, mountain rescuer

More than 80 people were involved in the search for them - including three mountain rescue teams - in poor weather conditions.

The women were well equipped for the weather, but did not have a map.

The Chairman of the Lake District Mountain Rescue Team, John Dempster, warned other fell walkers to make the best possible preparations before heading out.

'Tell friends'

He told BBC Radio Cumbria: "The problem with mobile phones is that sometimes the communication is not too reliable.

"If you do get through you have to keep your location otherwise it may not work again.

"The other thing to do is to tell friends where you are heading and leave some details of your route.

"The best thing really is a matter of prudence and judgement."