A SPECIALIST team of eight fell rescue members went to the aid of a pregnant ewe in Cray, near Buckden, and carried out an extensive search for an hour and half in gale force winds, but she managed to get herself to safety.

The team from Grassington based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) was called out on Thursday, last week, by a farmer concerned that the ewe was ‘cragfast’ - stuck and unable to move.

An UWFRA spokesperson said: “The team was alerted by a local farmer to a cragfast ewe believed to be pregnant with twins.

“A small specialist team was assembled to effect a rescue. However, despite an extensive search, in gale force winds, the ewe appeared to have made good her own escape.”