Steve Coogan, Lee Mack and thousands look to save Windermere

A number of celebrities once again joined the demonstration including comedians Steve Coogan and Lee Mack, and actor Alison Steadman.

Read more: Paul Whitehouse, Steve Coogan and Lee Mack visited Bowness | The Mail (nwemail.co.uk)

The campaigners were calling for greater protection of England’s largest lake and the elimination of sewage discharges, with political action a key focal point ahead of this week's General Election.

The demonstration was attended by over a thousand people - including a few well known names (Image: Save Windermere)

Speeches were delivered at the end of the march by a young student from Chetwynde school in Barrow, along with Coogan and Save Windermere founder Matt Staniek. 

The speakers called for immediate action from the next government to implement a comprehensive plan to eliminate all sewage discharges into Windermere over the next ten years and to enhance the legal protections for the lake.

The event was targeted at inspiring more people to join the fight for clean water and environmental justice, with posts of the demonstration shared by the campaign on social media reaching over three-quarters of a million people in the first 24-hours.

The campaigners marching through Windermere, led by members of Drum Nation (Image: Save Windermere)

Following the march, Mr Staniek branded the day as an 'enormous success', further bringing the campaign into the public eye.

He said: "Windermere has been exploited for decades – sewage has been dumped in its waters, and the regulator has failed to protect it.

"Not only is the resident community demanding urgent action for the long-term protection of the lake, but there is also now an overwhelming amount of support from local businesses who see the need to secure the lake's future for the viability of the local economy.

"Everyone is now calling for the same thing - a complete end to sewage pollution in Windermere, no more tinkering around the edges ‘reducing input’ - it's about protecting our lake forever.”

United Utilities have previously pledged an early start on investing nearly £20 million to reduce storm-water spills into Windermere and aims to start this work before 2025.

The water company is building storage tanks at Ambleside, Elterwater and Hawkshead that are large enough to hold around 11 million litres of storm water.