​A pensioner sparked a full-scale rescue operation when he became lost in fog at a Gloucestershire beauty spot.

Emergency services faced a race against time to find Allan Stratton – who had only ventured out to find his friend after she became lost herself.

Dr Corascendea Cathar had wandered for two hours on Cleeve Common in the dense fog before she called for her friend’s help.

But Mr Stratton, 62, who suffers from ill health, also became disorientated as the weather conditions closed in on the remote spot.

Police, paramedics and hill wardens combed the area for four hours before discovering him – only for a police officer to lose his bearings and become the subject of his own search party.

Both friends are now warning walkers not to venture on the common if there is any chance of fog.

Mr Stratton, who lives in Prestbury, said: “The thought of getting lost never occurred to me as I’m a Cheltonian and spent so much time at Cleeve Hill as a boy.

“If I hadn’t taken my glucose tablets with me I don’t think I would have survived. At one time, I collapsed in a field and couldn’t move.

“I’d like to warn others not to go up there if it looks like fog and I thank everyone involved in finding me. Everyone was so nice to me.”

Dr Cathar, 59, had taken her dogs on their usual hike from the golf course car park along the hill’s edge on Saturday afternoon.

She said: “I’m familiar with the common, but by the time I had arrived at the top of the hill mild fog had set in.

“Then the fog thickened until there was only a few yards’ visibility and, after wandering in circles for a good two hours, eventually I screamed for help.”

She was escorted by a group of walkers back to a car park miles away from her car and called Mr Stratton.

She said: “He became confused and went to the wrong car park and set out looking for us. I realised something had gone wrong.

“By then one of my dogs had collapsed with exhaustion and I carried her in my arms because I had to get her home.

“We found our way back to the car and safely returned home – only when I got back did I realise I couldn’t find my friend.”

Dr Cathar returned to the car park to find a major search was already under way.

Mr Stratton, who has Alzheimer’s, a heart condition and diabetes, had called police on his mobile, but they could not pick up his signal while tracking him down.

Dr Cathar said: “Allan and his dog were found safe before dark. He was suffering from mild hypothermia.

“The near-tragedy turned hilarious when a policeman looking for Allan was lost.

“Luckily, he was equipped with a personal tracking device and was given directions back.”

Cleeve Common duty ranger, David Stevenson, said: “I’ve had several cases of people getting disorientated in fog, including myself. It comes down so quickly and thickly. People shouldn’t go beyond the areas they know well.

“If you do, find a boundary and don’t climb over it but follow it back to a car park.”

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: “Officers were sent to the scene to search for the man and we liaised with the ambulance service and common rangers. The operation was called off when the man was located at 4.15pm.”