A LAKE District landscape conservation charity has appointed a new president.

Friends of the Lake District’s outgoing president Sir Martin Holdgate handed over to new president John Entwistle, OBE, at the charity’s Grasmere annual general meeting.

John Entwistle is a retired solicitor and tribunal judge, and former president of the British Chambers of Commerce, and former member of the north west National Trust Regional committee.

He said: "I am really delighted to have the privilege of being elected as the new president and be able to continue to support the charity in this role after my period as chairman.

"Sir Martin Holdgate will be a difficult act to follow but am pleased he will also continue to be involved as our emeritus president.

“The friends now have several important issues and projects to deal with to ensure our precious landscape here is protected so it can be enjoyed by what will inevitably be an increasing number of visitors.

“The Friends needs more financial support to do its job effectively and I shall try in my new role to help achieve this."

Sir Martin Holdgate said: “The past four years have been enjoyable and I hope that as ‘President Emeritus’ I can still contribute as Friends of the Lake District meets new challenges.

“The government’s forthcoming reappraisal of the national parks and of the national farm support system, will be topics of major debate that we, as one of the country’s premier landscape protection bodies and champions of one of Britain’s first and finest national parks, must make a major input into.”