County council set to give Longlands Lake to community
A lake which is a breeding ground for birds is to be given away free to a community in Cumbria.
Longlands Lake, on the River Ehen near Egremont, is a haven for mute swan, coots, tufted duck and mallards.
Cumbria County Council said it no longer needed the "beautiful" site and wanted to give it to the community to own and "maximise its potential".
A council spokesman said individuals or community groups could apply and it would take up to a year to organise.
The move is known as a community asset transfer which means authorities can give public assets away for less than they are worth or for free to ensure their future when they are no longer needed.
If a site was neglected or taken over by a charity which later folded, then ownership would revert back to council control.
Councillor Frank Morgan said: "It's a beautiful part of Copeland and I hope we can find an appropriate group that can take it on to deliver an even better community asset."
The site is also rich in vegetation including broadleaf woodland.