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Stephen Nolan was reduced to tears and had to call the police for help after an impromptu hike up the Mourne Mountains turned into a disaster.

The presenter of the biggest show in the country came a cropper when he tried to conquer one of its highest peaks.

BBC star Nolan decided to tackle the towering mountain to launch his latest drive to get fit.

But his elation at finally getting to the top soon turned to terror when, aching and sunburnt, he lost his bearings on the way back down.

Nolan said: "So, I've decided to try and lose weight again.

"Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life.

"I went down to Newcastle and I decided to climb a mountain.

"It honestly didn't dawn on me, not once did it dawn on me, that I shouldn't climb a mountain.

"I started to climb - I'm quite stubborn - and was determined to get to the top.

"I didn't have any suntan lotion, I didn't have any water. I'd a wee flimsy pair of trainers on.

"I was that determined to do it I didn't think things through.

"So, I started walking and walking and walking and I just refused to stop, I was in excruciating pain."

(Image: @StephenNolan)

The broadcaster set off at 1pm on Sunday, giving him seven hours before he had to be in position ahead of his Radio 5 Live show.

He kept fans up to speed with his progress, tweeting pictures along the way and stopping for selfies with other hikers.

And he eventually battled his way to the top, making it there at 6.30pm.

But then things took a turn for the worse.

He said: "I get to the top and I look down and I suddenly realise I'm not going to be able to get back down.

"So I go to phone 5 Live to say listen, it's half six I'm not going to be able to make it tonight.

"My phone by that stage is out of power so I was then in trouble.

"So I then had to try and sprint down the mountain."

(Image: @StephenNolan)

Nolan said children as young as four passed him on the way down, leaving him as the last person on the mountain.

He then got lost among trees - and his frustration tipped over.

"I started to cry," he said.

"I seriously started to cry because I was slightly frightened, I was surrounded by trees."

He told listeners to The Nolan Show he walked up to five miles in the wrong direction.

He said he was hobbling with a pulled hamstring by the time he got back to his car - only to discover he had been locked in the car park.

Nolan continued: "I get to the car, it's then about five to nine. I'm on at 10pm. I phoned the police. I needed the gates open."

Listeners and colleagues on the show enjoyed ribbing the star about his adventure.

He hasn't yet said whether he will return to the Mournes for another hike any time soon.