AS dramatic mountain rescues go - it's unlikely to warrant much space in the annals.

But if proof was ever needed of the selflessness and commitment of volunteer mountain rescuers in the Lake District, it surely takes some beating.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue spent three-and-a-half hours on a call out to an empty bag on Helvellyn.

At 3,117ft (950m), Helvellyn is the third highest mountain in both England and the Lake District.

The team was contacted reports that an orange survival bag was spotted on the headwall of Helvellyn with concerns someone could be missing.

The team reports: "Two team members ascended to the site and discovered that it was, indeed, just an empty bag."

However, the Patterdale team, which covers 140sq miles of the highest land in the country, regarded the incident at midday on Monday July 8 as a 'call out with good intent'.

Mike Blakey, team leader, said: "If you spot a survival bag high on Helvellyn, it's usually important to get to it and check it as soon as possible which is why the Police asked us to climb up there.

"Even in the current weather, a casualty might have been using it for shade so it was best to be sure. We're keen to emphasise to walkers that everything that they take on to the hills should be brought down with them too - discarding any piece of kit can cause concerns and, if we're then called out to unnecessarily, we're not as available for a real emergency."