A HILL climber who fell over cliffs had been answering the call of nature, rescuers revealed yesterday.

The unnamed 20-year-old tumbled 20ft down isolated Eston Nab, a popular beauty spot on the edge of the North York Moors, after he stepped out of his tent in the dark.

A friend used a mobile phone to alert the emergency services after the incident at about 4am yesterday.

Cleveland Police's spotter plane located the man and relayed information to paramedics and volunteers from Cleveland Search and Rescue.

The rescuers said the man was lucky to escape with grazes to his legs.

Nine years ago, an abseiler broke both ankles and a wrist falling a shorter distance on the Nab.

In the latest incident, the man, from Middlesbrough, had been camping with three friends about halfway to the summit of the 793ft high crag, which commands views of the Tees valley.

Pete Mounsey, a member of the search and rescue team, said Eston Nab was a remote spot but the team was well versed in the best access points.

He said: "It's not a difficult spot for us, but we did have to carry him across the moor."

The man was taken by stretcher to a waiting ambulance at the foot of the moor, which took him to Middlesbrough General Hospital.

It was the team's tenth call out this year.