THE Lake District's new prestigious World Heritage Site status could increase the number of search and rescue missions as tourist numbers swell, warn volunteers.

Richard Warren, chairman of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association was delighted by the news that UNESCO had recognised the area for its beauty but said it did have a "downside".

He said: "The award is fabulous for the area and good for tourism and local businesses.

"Many people will be adding the Lake District to their bucket list so the number of visitors coming from overseas will increase significantly.

"There's a potential downside that it brings more people who will want to go up into the mountains, which means more call outs - more people is always more call outs for us."

Mr Warren, who has volunteered for 35 years, said overseas tourists can often find themselves ill-equipped, under-prepared and lacking an appreciation of the challenges of walking in the Lake District.

Last year the association, which runs solely on voluntary donations, carried out just under 500 rescues, 100 of which could have been avoided.

So far this month, there have been 29 emergency calls and of the four rescues which took place last weekend, Mr Warren believes three could have been preventable.

He advises everyone thinking of exploring to take a map, compass and a torch.

The Lake District was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO on Sunday.

It joins sites including the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and Stonehenge on the prestigious list.

There are now 31 World Heritage Sites in the UK, including the city of Bath, the Tower of London, Canterbury Cathedral and the Giant's Causeway.

Lord Clark of Windermere, who chaired the Lake District's bid, said the decision to recognise the region's culture, art and literature, as well as its landscape, was "momentous".

He said: "It is this exceptional blend which makes our Lake District so spectacularly unique and we are delighted UNESCO has agreed.

"A great many people have come together to make this happen and we believe the decision will have long and lasting benefits for the spectacular Lake District landscape, the 18 million visitors we welcome every year and for the people who call the national park their home."

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