A MOUNTAIN rescue team was stood down after they could not locate a couple who reported they were stuck in snow on the Old Man of Coniston.

Coniston Mountain Rescue Team was alerted by Cumbria Police yesterday afternoon to the couple who could not give their exact position on the fell.

Further attempts to contact the couple by police failed and the team also attempted to contact them and used their Phone Fine system, but to no avail.

A spokesman from Coniston Mountain Rescue Team said: "A small party searched the most likely parts of the Old Man but found nothing.

"It was decided to conclude the search unless further information became available."

Five volunteers attended the incident which lasted just over two hours.