Incident report

Buxton Mountain Rescue Team called by Staffordshire police following the sighting of red distress flares being fired from the Roaches. There had been three independent sightings of the flares and their significance was emphasised with the report of three climbers being unaccounted for at their nearby bunk-house.

However, the first police officer on site found that the flares had been fired deliberately as part of a film recording.   Mountain rescue, together with the ambulance service and a police helicopter were all stood down.   The film crew were suitably advised by the police about the foolishness of not warning the emergency services of the event.   Ten team members, very tired following a long day searching for a man in Buxton, were pleased to be able to turn round and return home.