South Lakeland MP wants Great North Swim televised on BBC to help boost economy (From The Westmorland Gazette)

South Lakeland MP wants Great North Swim televised on BBC to help boost economy

10:17am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in News By Rachel Ryan

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today written to the Director General of the BBC asking them to televise this year's Great North Swim event live.

The BBC is currently planning to show highlights of the event as part of a wider sports package, but Mr Farron has called for the main race to be shown live.

Mr Farron is pressing the BBC because he says that televising the June 22-24 event on Lake Windermere will help to raise the profile of the Lake District.

Last year 10,000 people took part in the event.

Tim said: "The Great North swim is a fantastic event and is amongst the highlights of the Cumbrian sporting calendar.

"I hope the BBC agree to broadcast the event live this year because if they do it will make 2013's swim an even bigger event.”

"The event currently gives a massive boost to our local economy, with many thousands of people coming up for the weekend to stay at our great hotels and B&B's and eat at our fantastic restaurants.

"Just imagine what it could do for local businesses if we could get the swim live on the BBC”