Peak District walker drove home as search continued

The search involved a large number of volunteers in poor weather conditions

A walker whose disappearance prompted a five-hour search operation was later spotted driving home while rescue teams were still looking for her.

She had phoned police to say she was lost in the Peak District at about 14:00 GMT on Thursday.

Five mountain rescue teams were drafted in to help find her.

The search was only called off when the woman, who had apparently reached safety, was spotted on CCTV travelling home in her car to Lincolnshire.

Steve Cullabine, from Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team, said it was not known why the woman had not made contact to say she was safe and well.

He said the experience would have perhaps been traumatic for her.

Teams were hampered due to problems locating the walker's phone signal

Search teams spent five hours looking for the walker before being stood down

Mr Cullabine said initial reports had suggested the woman had got into difficulties between Crowden and Black Hill.

A team was deployed to the summit of Black Hill while mountain rescue teams from Glossop, Oldham, Bolton and Holme Valley were put on standby.

Police tried to maintain contact with the missing walker but were hampered by problems locating her phone signal which meant the search intensified to using all five rescue teams.

The police eventually called to confirm the walker's car had been picked up by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and that she was safe and well.