THE iconic beauty spot Stickle Tarn has today been listed as an Asset of Community Value.

It means that community groups would now have six months to raise the money to buy it if it is put back on the market by the Lake District National Park.

The Langdale Valley Association applied for Stickle Tarn to be listed as a community asset by South Lakeland District Council in response to the shock announcement that it had been put up for sale for £25,000 in March.

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David Sykes, Director of People and Places at SLDC, approved the application, but it means that while the sale would be halted for six months, the National Park still retain full control of who they sell it to once the six months have passed.

Jean Birkett, member of the Langdale Valley Association, is overjoyed with the news.

She said: "I'm absolutely delighted and excited.

"We wanted the National Park to know that we weren't happy with what they were doing. They didn't discuss the sale with local people and it belongs ot the nation so it shouldn't have been put on the market in the first place.

"We would hope that the National Park have learnt their lesson from this and will talk to the local people about what they are doing in future. It's a really special site and they should start talking to people before they start doing stupid things like this."

Mr Sykes made the decision to list the site because it 'serves local social interest and wellbeing'.

Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Mr Sykes said: "It's mainly to stop things happening as a surprise to local communities.

"Social wellbeing is quite a broad church but it's the idea of enjoyment, recreation, access to special places that are cherished by local communities.

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"Stickle Tarn is a piece of land and water that is enjoyed by the public and cherished by local people and we believe it fitted our criteria."

The Lake District National Park are yet to comment on the decision.