More than 10,000 people are set to descend on Windermere for the Great North Swim today.

Swimmers from across the country are taking part in the major event at the Low Wood Bay Hotel and Marina on the shores of England’s largest lake.

Most will be dressed in wetsuits to help them cope with the lake’s temperature of 16.4°C.

The participants will set off in groups of approximately 300 every half an hour as they attempt half mile, one mile and two mile swims while helping to provide a boost to the local economy.

Excitement is even greater since the abandonment last year because potentially dangerous blue-green algae was found in the water by The Environment Agency.

But organisers are confid-ent there is no danger of that this time round.

Sisters Mandy and Kelly Williams are taking part in memory of two close friends who died of Cystic Fibrosis over the last year – Chloe Piper, 23, died in March 2010, and her sister, Emily, 25, died in January.

So far they have raised almost £670 for Cystic Fybrosis Trust.

Meanwhile swimming instructor Jill Howarth, who runs Gale Green Cottage guest house, in Ingleton, will tackle her fear of open water swimming when she attem-pts the task.

She explained: “I was a national competitive swimmer in my youth and have spent the past 30 years teaching swimming, which I still do at Kirkby Lonsdale.

“But I have a lifetime fear of open water and must have been the only competitor to be elated when the swim was cancelled last year.

“I have entered again this year along with a lot of my very supportive adult swim-mers who are competing so if I manage to do the swim this year it will be a great personal achievement.”