Third egg in Lakes ospreys' nest

Thousands of people have seen the birds via a webcam

The Lake District ospreys are now incubating three eggs, birdwatchers have revealed.

The pair were reunited at Bassenthwaite Lake last month for the sixth year after a winter spent in Africa.

The birds, which wear identity tags, have generated high levels of interest during their Lake District stays with viewpoints and webcams set up.

The Lake District Osprey Project said there was speculation about a third egg and it had now been caught on camera.

The first egg was laid on 17 April, followed by another on 20 April and it is thought the third arrived two or three days later.

Graeme Prest, from the Project, said: "This is great news and we are delighted that we now have confirmation that there are definitely three eggs safely in the nest.

"We are all keeping our fingers crossed that this year there will be three chicks in the nest for the first time."

More than 17,500 people have already visited one of the viewpoints this year and 41,000 people have visited the project's website to follow progress on line.