A Wasdale team member at the site in Lord's Rake where the large boulder has fragmented. Photo: Wasdale MRT

A mountain rescue team has reported a large, precariously perched boulder on England’s second highest mountain has split is now in pieces.

The rock at the top of Lord’s Rake near the summit of Scafell has concentrated minds on those undertaking the route for some years.

But members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said the boulder is now in several smaller pieces.

The team reported: “The perched block at the top of Lords Rake has fragmented and is now in bits close to where it was stuck.

“There are some loose boulders where it was standing. The largest bit looks to be fairly well bedded into the scree. The rake itself is just as loose as ever.”

Lord’s Rake is one of several scrambly routes to the summit of Scafell that lead from near the Mickledore col. Broad Stand involves a difficult scramble with technical climbing moves with some exposure and has been the scene of several fatalities. A safer route involves heading up to Foxes Tarn on the Eskdale side of the col before turning towards the mountain’s summit.