A SOUTH Lakes Mountain Rescue Team carried out their first rescue of 2019 at the weekend after helping to rescue an injured mountain biker.

Coniston Mountain Rescue Team were called by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) at around 2:30pm on Saturday (Jan 5) after reports of a motorbike accident in Grizedale Forest.

When the team attended it was discovered that it was in fact a mountain biker who had 'lost control' whilst riding. A spokesperson from Coniston MRT said that the rider "had lost control of his bike on steep ground in the forest. He had gone over the handlebars and injured his ribs and shoulder."

The first team members were soon at the scene and the casualty was given pain relief before being stretchered down the slope and onto the forest road, where the ambulance was waiting. The man was then transferred to Furness General Hospital.

In total, 17 members attended the call out which took nearly two hours.