School children rescued from Honister Pass

Last updated at 09:18, Friday, 24 October 2008

Two school coach parties have been rescued from a remote mountain pass in the Lake District after 80mph gale force winds and torrential rain lashed the area.

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The teenagers from Cleveland were rained off on a geography field lesson so spent the day visiting Honister Slate Mine at the top of one of England's steepest mountain passes - Honister Pass - between Keswick and Buttermere.

As the weather began to worsen, the party left the award-winning tourist attraction in coaches only to descend the 1100ft mountain pass in coaches and be blocked by high floodwaters the tiny village road, the B5289.

To make matters worse, the river Derwent running alongside the road broke its banks - making the only road in both direction totally impassible - and floodlevels above waist height.

The road was also blocked on the other side of the mountain at Gatescarth near Buttermere.

Mark Weir, the owner of Honister Slate Mine, scrambled a team of Slate Mine staff together and used a fleet of 4X4 mine landrovers to tow the stricken coaches through the high floodwater with all the children safe on board.

Mr Weir said: "We are used to extreme weather being at the top of a mountain but I have never seen anything like this. All the kids loved it, they were filming on their phones and putting it on YouTube and were cheering at the end. They said they are definitely coming back here next year but I said we couldn't guarantee the weather.

"It was like a biblical storm. The wind is so strong that all the rain coming down the mountains in streams is being blowing back uphill.

He added: "The children are all ok and actually it has all been a real adventurous day out for them. They'll certainly remember coming to the Lake District."

The party remained in constant touch with the school party throughout. The photo "Flood 23" showing the minibus underwater did not contain children but was another motorist the mine helped.

Honister has cancelled all trips today on its high-level Via Ferrata zip wire experience due to worsening conditions.

Usually Mr Weir flies to and from his business in a helicopter but had left it at his home because of the atrocious weather and flying conditions.

Mr Weir joked: "The only way to get to Honister Slate Mine right now is by speedboat. We are now officially an island at the top of a mountain, but it'll be gone tomorrow, I'm sure."