IT WAS supposed to be a country walk on a crisp autumn day.

But for John and Maralyn Ljevar and Anthony Burns the Sunday afternoon trip up Pendle Hill very nearly ended in disaster after they were stranded in arctic conditions overnight on the unforgiving moorland.

Their lucky escape has prompted Rossendale Search and Rescue Team to urge walkers heading to Pendle Hill for the annual Hallowe'en walks tonight to go well equipped and be careful in the treacherous weather conditions.

John and Maralyn, of New Park Street, Blackburn, and their pal Anthony of Bank Hey Lane South, Blackburn, parked up at Sabden to set off walking over the hill to Barley when the weather was still fine.

But their experience of how the weather can change so quickly is one they will never forget -- and one the rescue team has urged walkers everywhere to remember.

The threesome had been walking for a few hours when they realised they were lost and raised the alarm using a mobile phone. It was more than three hours before they were found.

Rescue team member Andy Simpson said: "Two of them were cold and wet and very pleased to see us, but generally in good spirits. The other man was in quite a bad way.

"He had definitely suffered hypothermia and if somebody is left in that condition for any period of time it can kill. We had to get him off the hill as quickly as possible."

By midnight the rescue team could hear the RAF helicopter hovering overhead, but couldn't see it, so they headed uphill to meet the helicopter at a point just above Pendle House Farm.

Maralyn, 51, John, 48, and Anthony , 48, were finally in the helicopter at 3am and were taken to Burnley General Hospital before being released after treatment.

Rossendale Search and Rescue Team will be returning to Pendle Hill tonight for the annual Hallowe'en walk when hundreds of revellers make their way up the hill.

The rescued trio were wearing walking boots and waterproofs suitable for normal conditions but inadequate for the sudden storm.

Picture: Rossendale Search and Rescue Team on an earlier rescue on Pendle Hill