United Utilities has boosted storage at two sites around Windermere to help improve water quality.

The company transformed tanks at its Ambleside and Windermere wastewater treatment works, resulting in an extra 2.6 million litres of storage across the locations.

This is roughly equal to 33,000 bathtubs or just over the size of an Olympic swimming pool.

The tanks had been made redundant after upgrades at both sites, but now after being repurposed, they can now be used to hold additional storm water.

The stored storm water can be returned for full treatment, minimising the frequency at which storm overflows needs to function during periods of heavy rainfall.

Andrew Kendall, wastewater lead for United Utilities in Cumbria, said: "We continue to review our network and sites around Windermere to see where we can make further improvements to help improve the water quality of the lake.

"Our teams have worked quickly to repurpose these tanks and it will help make a real difference by reducing storm overflow operations from two of our sites."

Over the past 20 years, United Utilities has spent £75 million upgrading wastewater treatment sites, pumping stations, and sewers around Windermere, with £45 million of that work finalised in 2020.

Further investment is lined up to happen between now and 2030 to reduce more storm overflow operations at Elterwater, Hawkshead, Ambleside and Near Sawrey.

The company also plans to implement quick solutions at numerous sites across Cumbria to lower storm overflow operations.