Rise in walkers killed in Lakes

Seventeen walkers and climbers died in the Lakes in 2005

The number of walkers and climbers killed in the Lake District has risen in the last year, new figures reveal.

The Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association said 17 people died on Cumbria's fells and mountains last year, compared to 12 in 2004.

The association said there was no obvious explanation for the increase, but that many walkers and climbers died of heart attacks or were ill-prepared.

Last year Cumbria mountain rescue teams responded to 395 call outs.

The association recommends climbers and walkers always prepare for their trip properly by ensuring their equipment is adequate and that there are experienced people among their party.

'Drop in concentration'

It has also urged walkers to check the weather forecast regularly and learn first aid.

Ged Feeney, incident report officer, said: "I have been looking around for a number of years for an obvious explanation and there isn't. There are general trends.

"Most people have accidents towards the latter end of the day, probably when they are getting tired, probably when there's a drop in concentration, they think the hard bit's over and it's normally on descent that these things happen.

"So I don't think a finger can be pointed at any particular reason but there are general trends that people should be aware of."

Last month a 19-year-old man from West Yorkshire died after falling more than 100ft while climbing near the Old Man mountain, in Coniston.

Daniel Metcalfe, from Tingley, near Morley, was with his brother when he fell on crags and died instantly. His brother was winched to safety.