WHEN Gary Carter woke up after a day-long drinking session he found himself out on a limb.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a night out at The Red Lion pub, in Trimdon Village, County Durham, on Saturday.

But after stumbling out of the pub, he was found later curled up asleep in the branches of a nearby tree - 20ft above the ground.

Friends called the fire brigade, but an appliance from Wheatley Hill despatched to the scene was unable to reach him.

And as he slept on oblivious to the rescue effort being mounted, a specialised rope-rescue team was despatched from Peterlee to lower him down using equipment usually reserved for mountain rescues.

Mr Carter, who was still unconscious, was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees as a precautionary measure.

Speaking from his home in Church Road, Trimdon Village, last night, a sober Mr Carter remembered nothing of his ordeal.

He said: "I can't remember leaving The Red Lion, and I've got no idea how I got up that tree. In fact I can't remember anything at all until waking up in hospital."

Regulars at The Red Lion turned out to watch the rescue.

Landlady Alice Hodgson said: "It was brilliant. He had one drink in my pub and then disappeared.

"A few people went out and saw Gary up this tree. How he got up there I'll never know, but he got right up and fell asleep on a branch."