THE decision to withdrawal a deeply controversial plan to string a zipwire across Thirlmere has been greeted with joy by campaigners.

The Woodland Trust strongly opposed the application for the thrill-seeking attraction and after it was withdrawn by the developer, signalled it as a huge victory for local activists.

Oliver Newham, Woodland Trust campaigner, said:“Thirlmere Reservoir was never the right place for a zip wire and so we’re delighted to hear the application has been withdrawn. It is not only a stunning area but made up of a network of different habitats including ancient woodland that should rightly be protected from irreversible damage.

"We campaign to save ancient woods because their structure is unique and formed over centuries making them home to picky species that are not found elsewhere.

"And with only 2 per cent of ancient woodland cover left in the UK it is important we make the case for each one. Bafflingly, the UK is still losing these remarkable wildlife havens each year to poorly sited developments. We’re glad that Thirlmere won’t join the list for 2018.

"We objected to the application because ancient woods either side of the reservoir would have been lost and damaged to accommodate the zip wire structure. The local campaign group did a sterling job and the groundswell of public support shows people want more robust protection for gems like Thirlmere."