An unusual rescue mission saw one mountain rescue team called to the aid of a 55 kilogram dog on England's highest mountain.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team was contacted by Cumbria Police about St Bernard Daisy, who had collapsed while descending from the summit of Scafell Pike and was left unable to carry on.

In a race against the deteriorating weather,the rescue team sought advice from local veterinary surgeries on best pain relief measures and possible breed specific issues as Daisy’s owners kept her well hydrated and fed.

The team finally reached the stranded party’s location with a stretcher, where Daisy was displaying signs of pain in her rear legs and was refusing to move.

A spokesman for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said: “Team members carefully introduced themselves to Daisy so as not to cause any additional distress, and with the help of a treat or two members were able to assess her condition and administer analgesia for the pain.

“A few different tactics needed to be tried until both Daisy and her stretcher bearers were all satisfied and progress down-hill could be made. It had become quickly apparent that Daisy’s co-operation was going to be essential if we were to make progress as Daisy made sure we knew that if she didn’t want to do something, she wasn’t going to do it.”

However after plenty more treats Daisy was made comfortable on her stretcher and her rescuers were able to carry her down the mountain.

The team revealed the operation, on Friday, took nearly five hours, but was not too different to a human rescue.

“Apart from the odd little adjustment, the evacuation was found to be not that much different to a normal adult evacuation which is of course is the bread and butter of our team, which we have done hundreds of times before,” said the spokesperson.

The team reported that Daisy, who was recently adopted by her new owners after a difficult start in life, is doing well after managing a full night’s sleep, albeit snoring a little more loudly than usual.