A lamb has been rescued after getting trapped down a 40ft deep disused quarry tunnel.

It happened on the Cumbrian fells, near Coniston.

The RSPCA and Coniston Mountain Rescue volunteers were called in to rescue the Herdwick lamb.

It has now been returned safely to a local farmer.

An eagle-eyed geology student from Leeds University spotted the stricken baby animal while out doing fieldwork at the old Ash Ghyll slate quarry near Coniston. She called the RSPCA for help.

It happened on the afternoon of Sunday, June 11.

An inspector from the animal welfare charity met the student, Leigh Marsh, at the site and quickly realised they would need to call on mountain rescue volunteers to help with the rescue.

RSPCA Inspector Victoria Westwood said: “This poor lamb had got himself in a real pickle. He was stuck down a deep tunnel inside an old quarry with very steep sides and he just couldn’t get out.

“It was clear that any rescue at this deep and hazardous site would need to be carried out by people with expertise in this kind of terrain. So I contacted mountain rescue, who arrived within the hour."

She added: “After carefully making their way down into the quarry, the guys from mountain rescue had to wade through an old tunnel to get to the lamb. They were then able to catch it and secure it in an animal bag, while I traced the owner of the lamb.

“The lamb was carefully hoisted up the quarry walls then mountain rescuers carried him down the fells, where we reunited the lamb with his owner from Highground Farm. The lamb was checked over and despite its ordeal, miraculously hadn’t suffered any injuries."

She offered special thanks to Leigh for raising the alarm.

"That lamb would have died if it wasn’t for her," she said.

If you see an animal you have concerns about please call the RSPCA's emergency line on 0300 1234 999.