Windermere in the Lake District freezes for the first time since 2009
Parts of England's longest lake have begun to freeze for the first time in more than 10 years.
Windermere in the Lake District partially froze as temperatures dropped to a low of -10C (14F). Windermere Lake Cruises staff said this was the first time since 2009 they had seen large parts turn to ice. Director John Woodburn said: "Back in the early 1980s, it was even possible to walk across part of the frozen lake between Lakeside and Fell Foot." "At that time, I recall one of the team trying to break through an 8in (20cm) layer of ice with an ice pick, but it was frozen solid and as you can imagine, it was a thankless task," he added. Strong winds forecast for the weekend are expected to see the ice this time around disappear by Monday. Windermere Lake Cruises has suspended operations due to the current lockdown but a small number of staff are working on essential maintenance such as warming up engines to prevent frost damage. Derwent Water in the Lake District also partially froze this week due to the extreme weather conditions.