Walkers travelled from Rochdale to Yorkshire Dales before needing to be rescued because of snow

Two people who travelled miles to walk in the Yorkshire Dales had to be rescued after getting stuck in the snow.

The two walkers travelled to Ingleborough from Rochdale on Sunday, January 10.

It comes despite the Government urging people not to travel outside of their local area for their daily exercise.

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Arriving ill-equipped for the climb, the couple got into difficultly at the top of the peak and had lost their way due to low lying fog, ice and snow.

North Yorkshire Police have handed out more than 70 fines to people who have broken lockdown rules.North Yorkshire Police have handed out more than 70 fines to people who have broken lockdown rules.
North Yorkshire Police have handed out more than 70 fines to people who have broken lockdown rules.

They called the police at about 4.30pm to ask for help, as they could not find the paths due to the failing light and the wintery conditions.

North Yorkshire Police called upon the experience and skill of the Cave Rescue Organisation to help.

The volunteer rescuers scaled the peak and located the cold and shaken couple.

They brought them back to ground safely.

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Speaking about this incident Superintendent Mike Walker said: “This couple were incredibly fortunate to have come through this experience without injury and be able to tell the tale.

“We very clearly advised members of the public this weekend to stay at home and when taking exercise, stay local to stop the spread of Covid.

"Quite simply driving miles and miles, out of your village, town or city to visit an open space is not a necessary journey and is not acceptable.

“Neither is arriving at a challenging walking location, inexperienced and unprepared in treacherous weather conditions.

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"By making an irresponsible and ill-informed decision, the safety of others such as the Cave Rescue Organisation volunteers is also put in jeopardy and if any injury resulted, pressure placed upon already stretched NHS resources."

North Yorkshire Police handed out more than 70 fines to people breaking lockdown rules over the weekend.

This included fining people who were attending house parties.

Superintendent Walker said: “Officers policing the Craven district have told me they were run off their feet this weekend, speaking to out of area visitors who had decided to ‘come out for a drive’ or had ‘come to look at the snow’.

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“It’s not just been challenging in the Dales either unfortunately.

"Across the county this weekend we have issued over 70 fixed penalty notices for breaches of the Covid regulations.

"On the coast in Scarborough we have again seen several house parties taking place, which have required our attendance.

"So again, I would ask people to really consider their actions and the decisions they are making.

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"Please think carefully about your actions and ensure you do not put yourself or others at risk or add any more pressure to already stretched emergency services.

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan added: "The rules and regulations are already very clear but there is a significant minority who seem to think they don’t apply to them.

"The message is simple – stay at home apart from for very specific reasons. Those reasons do not include taking a day trip to North Yorkshire from elsewhere or travelling to a different part of North Yorkshire if you live here.

"Exercise should be taken close to your home, not close to other people’s homes far from yours, in communities who are doing all they can to stop the spread.

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“I fully support North Yorkshire Police’s approach which has always been to ask and engage with enforcement only as a last resort. But, I am clear – if they find blatant breaches of the law, they are absolutely right to take action.

"The vaccines being rolled out give us hope for the future, but for now each and every one of us needs to take responsibility for protecting our NHS and saving lives.”

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Monday, January 11 Mr Hancock was pressed on whether people should exercise seven miles from their home – thought to be a reference to reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson cycled in east London at the weekend.

The Health Secretary said: “Yes, you can go and exercise in the park with one other person, but only one other person.

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“And we have been seeing large groups and that is not acceptable. And you should be two metres apart from the other person.

“If there are too many people breaking this rule then we are going to have to look at it.

“But, I don’t want to do that because, for many people being able to go for a walk with a friend, that often is their only social contact.

“It is OK to go for a walk with one other person around a park, but you should stay two metres apart from that other person.

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“And, likewise, it is OK, if you went for a long walk and ended up seven miles away from home, that is OK.

“But, you should stay local, you should not go from one side of a country to another, potentially taking the virus with you.”