MOUNTAIN rescuers were called out today to rescue a man who had slipped and injured his knee.

The rescue was launched in the Teesdale area of County Durham this afternoon by the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team.

The middle-aged man from the Sunderland area had been walking with his partner near the hamlet of Holwick, near Middleton in Teesdale when he fell and sustained the injury.

Team Leader Dave Bartles-Smith said: "We were contacted by the police around 4.30pm this afternoon and we were able to make contact with the man by mobile phone.

"12 team members went immediately to Holwick and, because of the worsening weather conditions, immediately requested the North-East air ambulance to go directly to the casualtys location which was on the fell approximately one mile south of the village."

The man was then taken by the helicopter to hospital, while his partner was escorted back to Holwick by team members.

"I would like to stress that this gentleman did everything right once he had injured himself," Mr Bartles-Smith said. "He was able to give us a grid reference of his location via his mobile phone, he and his partner got inside a plastic bivvy bag to keep warm and dry before we arrived and they were both well equipped."

The Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team is affiliated to Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

It provides a search and rescue service throughout County Durham and beyond, primarily for the Police but also for the other emergency services.

All Team members are volunteers and rely on funds raised by the team as a registered charity.

Further details regarding our latest call-outs and team information can be found via www.twsmrt.org.uk