THE Coastguard service, which has been helping the people of Carlisle during their recent storm damage problems, is also taking over responsibility for safety and rescues on Cumbria's largest lakes.
Until now, the police have been in charge of safety on the Lakes, although who actually does the rescuing varies from lake to lake.
The Coastguard will adapt to what is in place now, adding teams of volunteer coastguards around the lakes, with control from their Merseyside centre.
The Coastguard, when it takes over in April, plans to improve communications and will be recruiting small teams of auxiliary coastguards for each lake.
Davy Thomson, the Area Operations Manager at Liverpool Coastguard, said: "Lake wardens provide a professional service but we will be able to provide it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which currently is not the case.
"The public will notice no change. If they get into trouble - the only difference is they will now dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard where before they asked for police."
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