Motorists in the Lake District are having to be rescued on high mountain passes because they are relying on their satellite navigation systems.

Police in Cumbria warned drivers not to rely solely on their sat-navs, which take no account of adverse weather. As a result, many are becoming stranded on routes in bad weather.

The Struggle, the steep road which runs from Ambleside to the Kirkstone Pass, under Red Screes, is a particular blackspot, said a spokesperson for Cumbria Constabulary. The road is treacherous in bad weather and, with some of the worst weather so far this winter forecast for this evening, motorists should stick to lower-level routes.

PC Christine Nelson said: “I would urge people not to rely too heavily on their sat-nav systems when travelling through Cumbria. Most systems calculate the shortest route with the least traffic and nine times out of ten this will take you over the A592 Kirkstone Pass and The Struggle when planning routes through the Lake District.

“These are high mountain passes which invariably experience adverse weather conditions at the summit, even when the weather may seem OK at lake-shore level.

“People need to take a common-sense approach to route planning by checking weather reports and roads information and should never ignore warnings when advised not to travel on such exposed routes.”

The A592 reaches a height of 455m (1,493ft) at the Kirkstone Pass Inn, on the route between Patterdale and Windermere.

The Mountain Weather Information Service is forecasting snow with winds of 40-50mph (65-80kph) winds, with snow slowly turning to rain below 800m (2,625ft).

The Lake District Weatherline says snow is likely above 400m (1,312ft) tomorrow. Felltop conditions today on Helvellyn, provided by assessors Craig Palmer and Jon Bennett, were up to 60cm (2ft) of snow in drifts, with loose windslab developing and cornices forming on eastern aspects.

Although the advice is to carry full winter clothing and kit while walking on the Lake District’s fells, mountaineers are asked to consider the environmental damage caused by crampons on soft and shallow snow.