POLICE and mountain rescue volunteers helped a 70-year-old man who collapsed while walking on the Pennine Way on Sunday.

The walker collapsed on top of a hill in heavy rain at Kirkcarrion, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, at about 3.30pm.

Police officers from Stanhope and Barnard Castle were first on the scene and administered first aid.

They then contacted Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue to transport the patient to the bottom of the hill.

Ten trained volunteers from the charity attended in two 4X4 vehicles, with team leader Steve Owers co-ordinating the operation.

Mr Owers said: “Our medics assessed him at the scene and managed to lift him into one of the Land Rovers and drive him 2km off the fell where an ambulance was waiting to transport him to hospital.

“We also brought the other three members of the party down to. They were a bit cold but were all okay.”