A helicopter helped the woman

An RAF helicopter from Northumberland and three coastguard teams from Dumfries and Galloway were called to the scene of the accident at Meikle Ross, west of Kirkcudbright.

The woman, in her 50s, slipped and fell 40ft onto a ledge whilst climbing a coastal cliff face with five female friends.

She was winched into a helicopter from RAF Boulmer and taken to Dumfries Royal Infirmary suffering from spinal and head injuries.

Her condition was not thought to be life threatening.

The helicopter dropped a medic down and he spent quite a long time stabilising the casualty Coastguard spokeswoman

Rescue services were alerted by one of the other climbers shortly after 1430 BST on Saturday.

A spokeswoman for Liverpool Coastguard, who co-ordinated the operation, said: "The helicopter dropped a medic down and he spent quite a long time stabilising the casualty and ensuring she was in the best state to be winched up to the aircraft."

She added: "By all accounts they were an experienced group of climbers and although it's quite a remote spot it seems quite a popular climbing spot."

She said the other climbers had been led to safety by the coastguard teams and reported that the weather in the area had been "quite favourable".