The successful swimmers: from left, Stewart Devlin, Hayley Buckley, Fiona Devlin, Caroline Langdon and Elaine Tatham

Mountain rescuers staged their own version of a cancelled outdoor swim to raise cash for their team.

Three members of the Coniston Mountain Rescue Team took to Coniston Water after their planned fundraiser during the aborted Great North Swim thwarted their challenge.

The Windermere event was cancelled at short notice last month after poisonous blue-green algae appeared on the lake, making the swim, involving 9,000 outdoor swimmers, too risky to stage. The trio of mountain rescue team members was joined by friends on Sunday in perfect conditions on their local lake, Coniston Water.

The cash raised – more than £1,000 so far – will go towards replacing the team’s ageing Land Rover ambulances.

The rescuers, Caroline Langdon, Stewart Devlin and Hayley Buckley, were joined by friend Elaine Tatham and Mr Devlin’s daughter Fiona in the mile-long swim across the lake, which was accomplished in 45 minutes.

Jeff Carroll of Coniston MRT said: “The Swimmers and CMRT are both grateful to all sponsors and supporters who have resulted in approximately £1,100 being raised so far. If anyone else would like to sponsor them, feel free to contact the team via the website.”