Last updated 19:51, Thursday, 04 September 2008

ORGANISERS of one of the Lake District’s biggest athletic events of the year have faced a massive task of saving the event.

The Lakeland Trails Festival in Keswick this weekend has had to call up emergency wet weather parking because the Fitz Park venue is waterlogged.

Race director Graham Patten said they had been working hard with the local community and Keswick Football Club to save the event.

Alternative emergency wet weather car parking plans have being drawn up involving Keswick School and including use of car share schemes, public transport, and providing an additional marquee for competitors’ changing and baggage storage.

Patten said: “The last thing we want to do is damage the football pitches on Fitz Park, so we are limiting the access to vehicles and carrying things on to the venue by foot.

“We also have a tractor on stand-by to pull on trailers to prevent the ground getting churned up.”

The festival includes the 14km Puma Derwentwater Trail Race featuring international athletes, a 5km run, and the Bridgedale Derwentwater Sport Trail, plus lots of entertainment.