MOUNTAIN rescuers answered their fifth call in 10 days on Sunday when a couple were left stranded above cliffs near Abergavenny.

Members of Abergavenny-based Longtown Mountain Rescue Team were called out after the couple became stuck above the Craig y Cilau Nature Reserve, at Llangattock.

The man and woman, from Clydach, near Swansea, had gone for an early afternoon stroll but became disorientated and finally became stranded on a steep escarpment.

Chairman of Longtown MRT, Mike Jones, said: “It was already dark when we arrived. They were uninjured but tired, hungry and thirsty. They were very pleased to see us and we were able to re-warm them, give them food and drink and help them to safety.”

The call out was the fifth in 10 days for the team.

On Saturday afternoon the team was called to Table Mountain, above Crickhowell.

A woman from Windsor, had been walking in a group when she fell and injured herself.

Longtown MRT was joined by members of Brecon and Central Beacons MRTs in the rescue. The woman had suffered a shoulder injury and was in a lot of pain. She was treated on the hillside by paramedics and a team doctor before being carried down by stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

Mr Jones said: “It has been a busy 10 days for us. The team has attended five call outs, including two to walkers suffering from hypothermia.

“We’ve worked for three different police forces – Gwent, Dyfed Powys and West Mercia, and joined with our colleagues from Brecon and Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Teams and SARDA –dog search and rescue.

“We’ve gone to the aid of 13 casualties in total and one call out involved a search in hazardous and life threatening conditions.

“I’d like to pay tribute to all our members in this, our 50th year. They are all volunteers but are on call 24/7 whatever the weather conditions.”