Patterdale team members used their boat in the search

Mountain rescuers launched a search for missing paddlers in the Lake District after two upturned kayaks were found.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted after a safety boat from an outdoor centre found an empty kayak floating on Ullswater about 3.10pm today, Thursday.

Cumbria Constabulary called in the team to aid a search by the Coastguard. Patterdale’s rigid inflatable was used on the lake to help look for any missing paddler.

A spokesperson for the Patterdale MRT said: “The team launched its boat and searched the lee shores and discovered a second kayak.

“It was decided because of the flooded conditions, the high winds and fading light, to put a land search party in to search the shoreline.

“After a shoreline search together with further water-based searches no kayakers were found. We had no reports from the police of anyone being missing or overdue so the team stood down.”

Three people have died on Ullswater this year. Mark Bryant, 55, of Beamsley, North Yorkshire, died when he drowned on a fishing trip in August; 18-year-old kayaker Chad Salisbury, of Leyland, Lancashire, perished when his boat capsized in June, and Tony Thwaites, 62, of Alcester, Warwickshire, drowned after going overboard from a pleasure steamer on the lake in May.