CAVE rescue volunteers were called out four times yesterday (Sunday), twice to walkers attempting one or all of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, once to a visitor at Thornton Force and once to a sheep who had been stuck on a ledge for five days.

At just after 8am on Sunday, having waited five days for a sheep to leave its ledge at Mealbank Quarry, Ingleton, and wander up the quarry face to graze the field at the top, a farmer called for help.

A spokesperson for the Cave Rescue Organisation, said: "A small team lowered one member down to the ledge with a bag of sheep-nuts in one hand and a large canvas sack in the other. The shaking of the bag seemed to remind the sheep that it was hungry and, as it didn’t like the look of its ‘rescuer’ or the sack, it scrambled rapidly up to the field at the top, to resume its grazing."

At about 7.30pm, a 54 year old man slipped on the path from the top of Horton Scar Lane to Penyghent, sustaining an ankle injury, which he bore with stoicism, throughout said the CRO spokesperson.

"CRO 4, the team’s Honda Pioneer, led the way up Horton Scar Lane, carrying a Yorkshire Ambulance Service paramedic and three team members. They drove all the way to the patient, while other members waited with the team Land Rovers at the top of the lane, in case more equipment was needed.

"After assessment by the paramedic, the casualty’s lower leg was splinted and he was assisted on to the back seats of the Honda. Back down at the top of the lane, he and his family were helped into a Land Rover and all returned to Horton. There, the YAS paramedics used a more compact splint so that the family could drive home and the patient could visit his local hospital the following day."

As team members were leaving Penyghent, at about 9.45pm, they received a call from police that two female walkers doing the Yorkshire Three Peaks had reported themselves lost but uninjured on Ingleborough and were concerned about failing light.

"The police control room staff were able to provide a location, which translated as being between Gaping Gill and Bar Pot, above Clapham.

"While most members who had been on Penyghent waited at CRO base in Clapham in case they were needed, two members took a team Land Rover to the top of Long Lane, Clapham, and the Honda Pioneer to the Bar Pot stiles, then walked to the ‘lost’ pair. All returned to Clapham by vehicle before one team member took the two walkers back to Horton car park, on his way home."

The CRO says it is not uncommon for walkers climbing Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent to make a wrong turning where the summit of Ingleborough divides into three.

"It is not uncommon for Three Peaks walkers who are unfamiliar with the area to turn right too soon and head due South to Little Ingleborough and Gaping Gill when they should continue East to find the path across Simon Fell Breast, towards Horton. Being driven back to Horton isn’t completing the challenge."

Also on Sunday, a 37 year old man sustained a painful ankle injury after falling at around 3.30pm on the path below Thornton Force, Ingleton, near the waterfalls trail.

Team members administered pain relief, splinted his lower leg and carried him, by stretcher, to a team Land Rover. This took him to the road-head to await a road ambulance. He was handed over to the paramedics for the journey to hospital and his family members were driven back to their caravan.