A WALKER from Bolton was involved in a dramatic air rescue after becoming stranded by rising tides on the Scottish island of Arran.

Classroom assistant Sue Coldbridge was on a walking holiday with friend Catherine Walker when they became trapped at the bottom of a cliff.

They called the coastguard for help and were eventually winched to safety when a helicopter rescue team was called.

Mrs Coldbridge aged 48, from Daisy Hill, Westhoughton and Mrs Walker, aged 51 from Ashley, near Manchester, were on week-long walking trip and planned to cover the entire 64-mile coastline of the island.

Mrs Walker, a teacher, said: "We were following the instructions of the guide book, which said the area would be safe to pass at high tide for experienced walkers.

"We got to a certain point where we could go no further and planned to sit it out until the tide started to lower. I called the coastguard for advice on when that would be and they said we should never have negotiated the area."

A team of rescue experts were called to help the stranded pair, and decided to make the rescue by helicopter.

The women managed to move 200 yards further down the rocks to a point where they could be brought up the cliff safely. They were eventually rescued at around 6.30pm on Saturday after being winched on to the helicopter which was hovering above.

Stuart Atkinson, Clyde Coastguard watch manager, said: "The weather would have made it very difficult for a lifeboat to come on to the beach. After an assessment on scene, it was decided to bring in a helicopter as both people were suffering from exhaustion because they had been in challenging terrain and strong weather conditions since 9am.

"After the two were brought up to the cliff top, the helicopter took them to Knockenkelly where a Scottish Ambulance Service team met them for assessment. It was decided at this point they did not require hospital treatment, but they made their way back to their accommodation, no doubt for a well earned rest."

Mrs Walker said: "The day started off with nice weather, but it got gradually worse until it started to rain in the afternoon. Being winched into the helicopter wasn't too bad, although I did close my eyes as they lifted me.

"The gentlemen who came to our rescue were very professional and extremely kind and we are very grateful to them."

Mrs Coldbridge and Mrs Walker did not complete the final leg of their walk but they did invite their rescuers to a barbecue to say thank you.

"We aren't risk takers, so we decided to skip the last part of the trip," said Mrs Walker.