The team will swim across Coniston Water. Photo: Mick Knapton CC-BY-SA-3.0

A group of mountain rescuers thwarted in its bid to participate in the postponed Great North Swim has decided to tackle its very own version on home territory.

Four swimmers had planned to take part in the swim last month to raise funds for Coniston Mountain Rescue Team, but the event was put off at the last minute by an outbreak of poisonous blue-green algae on Windermere.

Now, the swimmers will take to the water closer to home and follow a mile-long course across Coniston Water next Sunday – weather permitting.

Team member Stewart Devlin said: “We’d done all the training to swim a mile and it seemed a shame to not use the swim fitness levels we’d all achieved.”

The swimmers plan to tackle their own Great Coniston Swim, from Brantwood jetty on the lake’s eastern shore, to Coniston Boating Centre.

The four, Stewart Devlin, Caroline Langdon, Hayley Buckley and Stewart’s daughter Fiona, will take the plunge at 9am on 10 October.

The swimmers are asking all existing sponsors to continue their support. Anyone else wishing to add to the coffers can contact the team via its website.