PROTESTERS will stage a rally to voice concerns about the Lake District National Park becoming "too commercialised".

A group will walk from Keswick to Latrigg to protests against plans to build a gondola-style cable car up to Whinlatter visitor centre.

Landscape charity Friends of the Lake District says the national park authority has focused too much on making the Lake District a tourist attraction since it was granted World Heritage status and neglected residents and the environment.

Douglas Chalmers, CEO of Friends of the Lake District, said: “There has been concern for some time that the Lake District National Park is becoming too commercialised.

"This feeling has increased in recent months through the threatened zip wires across Thirlmere and now a suggested cable car to Whinlatter.

"These proposals and others like them are generating a wider awareness of what is at stake and driving the debate about what our National Parks are for.

“The landscape and the experiences it provides are the attraction and many tourism businesses benefit directly from this.

"Artificial attractions will not benefit, but actually will threaten our environment, our economy and our local communities.

Taking place on Saturday, the walk will feature speakers including Lord Clark of Windermere, who led the Lake District's bid to become a World Heritage Site.

Adventurer Paul Rose, who presents The Lakes with Paul Rose on BBC1, and filmmaker Terry Abraham will also speak about their concerns for the national park.

The cable car proposals are part of the Lake District National Park's Local Plan, a set of policies used to inform decisions on planning applications and appeals.

The walk starts at 10.30am and lasts until 2.30pm.

The national park authority was contacted for comment.