Parkswim halted by 'unprecedented' low water level

The usual entry point into the lake has receded so far that swimmers risk getting stuck in a "black bog" trying to reach the water

An open water lake swim has been cancelled due to "unprecedented" low water levels.

Parkswim at Daventry Country Park in Northamptonshire has been suspended after water levels hit an "all-time low".

Jenna Curtis, one of the group's five directors, said they did all they could to keep running the Sunday morning sessions, but could no longer safely access the course.

Last month it was announced Northamptonshire had entered a status of prolonged dry weather - the category below drought after a spell of hot, dry weather.

There was enough water to swim - and kayak - at the start of the swimming season in April

Ms Curtis said the group had never before closed sessions due to the water levels.

The usual entry point from the bank into the lake has receded so far back that swimmers would end up stuck in a "black bog" trying to reach the water," she said.

"We've tried to keep the sessions going because we have a big community that come," she said.

"Last week one of our brilliant volunteers was on his paddleboard and was paddling swimmers out to the start of the course so they didn't have to go through any of the black bog.

"We tried moving our entry points as the waters receded... and the country park rangers made us a ramp to wheel round to each new entry point when we still had a good water level.

"It worked for a couple of weeks and now, of course, the water has drained even more.

"It just means we cannot get our swimmers in and out safely, which is, of course, our top priority."

A ramp was created by park rangers to help the swimmers get into the water

Droughts are driven by natural weather patterns, but climate change and our growing use of water are raising the risks of water shortages, according to the Environment Agency.

The Parkswim group was told by park rangers it could take at least 10 days of "good" rainfall before the levels rise.

"We're really disappointed," Ms Curtis added.

Between 20 and 60 swimmers attend the swim sessions, which run on a Sunday from 08:00 BST to 09:00 and 09:00 to 10:00, during April to October.