A GROUP of 13 schoolchildren accompanied by two adults had to call on the help of mountain rescue after one person sustained head injuries.

Keswick Mountain Rescue were called at about 5.30pm on Thursday after a member of the party had slid 50m and sustained head injuries whilst climbing Helvellyn from Thirlmere.

A spokesman for Keswick Mountain Rescue said: "Two vehicles left base and made their way to Swirls car park where they started to climb towards Helvellyn knowing only that the missing party were somewhere between them and the summit.

"A coastguard helicopter was also called due to the potential seriousness of the incident.

"Control were later able to make further contact with the group and were then told that one of the party, on seeing the fall had run off down hill and had not been see since.

"Further team members were subsequently tasked to find the missing person who was later found by police."

Whilst an assessment of the casualty was being carried out the rest of the team cut steps across the snow slope and escorted the school pupils to safer ground.

Once the casualty had his hand splinted and injuries assessed he was able to walk with assistance.

With one team member on either side of him he was walked off along with the rest of the group back to the main path.

It took 22 member over four hours.