AN elderly woman on an evening stroll spent last Friday night entangled in a wire fence on a remote clifftop path near East Quantoxhead before being rescued by coastguards on Saturday morning.

Emergency services were alerted by a dog-walker who found the woman lying on the ground in a distressed state.

She was released from the fence by coastguards and stretchered from the cliff path to an ambulance for hospital care and treatment after her ordeal.

A coastguard spokesman said the woman had attempted to climb a fence on the cliff path but had become entangled and stuck.

“With night drawing in, it was soon dark and no other walkers were in the area to hear her cries for help.

“It was not until 9am the following morning that a dog walker found the casualty in a distressed state on the cliff path, having not been reported missing from home overnight.”

The spokesman added: “With an ambulance paramedic already on the scene, no medical assessment was required but our light alpine cliff rescue stretcher was deemed the most suitable to evacuate the casualty to safety.

“We would like to join the police in thanking the dog walker for prompt actions and would remind anyone venturing on to the cliff paths to carry a mobile phone.

“As the nights are drawing in, a torch would also be useful to carry.”