A 14-year-old fell runner went missing for five hours when he became lost in freezing fog on an East Lancashire hill.

The incident has prompted officers to urge anyone out on the region's fells to take a mobile phone in case of emergencies.

The warning came after a teenage boy who had been with a party of fellow fell runners on Parlick Fell, near Chipping, became separated from the group on Monday afternoon.

When he failed to return to the starting post in Startifants Lane his parents raised the alarm and the Bowland Mountain Rescue Team began a search of the fell just after 2.30pm.

However, the dense freezing fog meant the team couldn't scramble their helicopter and the boy remained missing for several hours.

The search was only called off at 7.30pm when the boy phoned home from a restaurant on the A6 in Cabus, north of Garstang, more than eight miles away.

Officers have also urged youngsters to call for help when they become lost in isolated areas after the boy was twice seen by passersby but failed to tell them his predicament.

A spokeswoman for Clitheroe police said: "This lad was quite lucky because he had been wearing tracksuit bottoms and a long-sleeved top.

"If he had been in a vest and shorts it could have been a lot more serious.

"During the winter months freezing fog can form quickly and that can be very dangerous. Also, fell runners and people out walking should take a mobile phone with them.

"They don't weigh very much yet can save a life. In this case the boy had a number of opportunities to raise the alarm when he was seen by the public, but he chose not to say anything possibly because he didn't want to talk to strangers.

"If he'd had a phone he could have called for help. The important thing is to recognise when you get into trouble and act on it.

"Finally, we would urge anyone who sees someone out on the moors in inappropriate clothing to contact the police. We may well be looking for them."

The boy was cold and wet but otherwise unharmed. He was taken to his parents' house in Elswick, between Preston and Blackpool.