Rescue teams were scrambled Monday morning after reports were received of cries for help close to the River Wye above Chepstow Castle.

The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) was called by police after reports were received about the distress call in the area.

Land and rope teams from SARA stations at Tewkesbury and Cotswolds, as well as Beachley were tasked to search the steep woodlands on both sides of the Wye Valley north of Chepstow, in conjunction with officers from both Gloucestershire and Gwent Police Forces.

As a precaution, Beachley’s SARA Lifeboat 7 was launched to search the area. A visiting member of SARA Wyre Forest, who had come down to join a planned rope rescue training session, was also co-opted to join the search.

After several hours of searching the origin of the shouts was located, but no one was in danger.

It turned out to be a false alarm with good intentions.

A spokesman for SARA said : “Many thanks to all who responded, some of whom then went straight on to enjoy an afternoon of rope rescue training at Livox Quarry!”