MP expresses 'great shame' at cancellation of the Great North Swim

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has this afternoon expressed 'great shame' following the news that the organisers of the Great North Swim have been unable to run the event this autumn, and have now cancelled it.

Speaking this afternoon, Tim said: "It is a great shame that this event has had to be cancelled. Blue-green algae is a naturally occurring substance, and it's simply bad timing that has led to this sequence of events.

"However, I am concerned that for next year the organisers have a proper plan B - and that probably means having that plan B for another lake. Lakes such as Coniston and Ullswater are currently free of the algae. The national park authority indicated to me on Friday that they would work with the organisers if this was something they wanted to do.

"What is most important, though, is that this sequence of events does not tarnish the 'brand' of the Lake District. It's perfectly safe to come on holiday here - and blue-green algae is both a naturally occurring substance, and found in many other lakes in the UK (for instance a similar event had to be postponed last year on Loch Lomond in Scotland)."