A MAN was rescued by firefighters tonight after falling up to 20ft down a steep ravine.

They used ropes to lower themselves down to the injured man before securing him to a stretcher and hauling him back to safety.

Two crews from Durham responded at 5.14pm after a report that a man had fallen down a ravine off the A690 near Belmont, Durham. They were at the scene for more than two hours.

He was carried to an adjacent field where he was flown to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance.

No details were available as to the extent of his injuries.