OKEHAMPTON police have been thanked for their prompt response to a call for help from three Cornish art students stranded on Dartmoor on Monday morning.

The boys, aged between 17 and 18, were rescued from an observation hut in the High Willhays area. They had broken into it to get shelter.

The campers, who had gone to the moor for an overnight stay to take photographs for their university portfolios, used their mobile phone to call a relative who alerted the police at Okehampton.

The boys from Redruth were concerned because weather conditions had changed dramatically and one of them was showing signs of hypothermia.

With the help of training officer at Okehampton camp Gary Harnell, police officers Sergeant Ian Preston and PC Bob Watt used a police LandRover to travel over hazardous terrain to find the boys.

Within an hour and ten minutes of receiving the call the rescuers reached the three students.

Luckily, two of the boys, Geraint Thomas and Ross Marshall, had been involved in the Ten Tors Expedition in the past and knew what to do when their friend Gareth Vale became unwell.

'Gareth kept being blown over by the wind and he got very wet,' said Geraint.

'We managed to find shelter but his lips were blue and he was becoming very weak.'

The boys were well equipped and used a survival bag and sleeping bag to keep Gareth warm and lit their gas stove.

Geraint said they had checked the weather forecast on the internet before they set off on their venture on Sunday but the weather changed quite dramatically on Monday.

'With Gareth deteriorating it was important to get him off the moor as soon as possible and I would like to thank the police very much for reaching us so quickly.'

Both police officers, who were new in post, said they were grateful to Gary Harnell because his local knowledge proved invaluable.

Sgt Preston previously worked at Torquay and PC Bob Watt in Torbay.

'My experience has been more of the south side of Dartmoor and I was surprised just how barren and unfriendly the area around Okehampton camp can be,' said the sergeant.

'It is quite remarkable how the weather conditions can change with the altitude. Whilst it was quite clear around the camp as we headed towards Yes Tor the mist came right in.'

He added that the experience for himself and PC Watt would be useful for the Ten Tors event.