MEMBERS of a mountain rescue team spent two hours frantically searching for a male who reported four friends missing - only to find him with them and heading for home.

The incident happened at Scafell Pike on Monday.

The Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were called at 8.35pm.

A spokesman for the team said: "We were called by a friend of the four males who had set off to walk up Scafell Pike at 11.30am and not returned.

"None of the four phonefinds (a service that allows the location of mobile phones to be viewed) that were sent were successful and it was not possible to speak to the informant by phone.

"A team member tried to find him by checking car parks at the head of the valley, with no success.

"Local taxi firms and pubs were phoned in case they had walked out via Eskdale, with no success.

"Eventually, contact was made and the four were safe and well, with their friend in Keswick, heading home."

The team ended the incident at 10.41pm.