IT might be a mild for the time of year up on the Lake District fells so far, but one hiker came across a very wintry and very strange phenomenon last week.

Vee Cooke was walking in the Langdale area and was making her way over a windswept area of the fells when she was surprised to come across what appeared to be an upward growing icicle.

She was mystified at the sight, especially as there was no sign of any trees or any other type of overhanging foliage on the bare terrain, so immediately stopped to photograph the 'icicle,' which was several inches high.

"My wife was taking a circular route over Pike of Blisco when she saw what looked like an upside down icicle," said Vee's husband Julian.

"I’ve never seen anything like it and thought it might be of interest."

The couple, who are from the Sheffield area, shared their find with diners in a nearby cafe who, while fascinated, could not offer any convincing explanation.

Some research on the internet by the Westmorland Gazette appears to point to the fact that the find is a rare occurrence known as an 'ice spike,' a spate of which appeared across the country during a cold spell early in 2017.

A Met Office spokesman offered an explanation as to how these are formed.

"Ice spikes form as a result of the way water freezes, from the outside in," said the spokesman.

"As the 'skin' of the ice thickens, liquid water remains in the middle.

"If a weakness or hole appears in the ice skin, liquid water gets squeezed up through the hole, and the ice spike forms."

However, the Pike of Blisco ice spike appears to have formed on the edge of a pool of water, which appears to rule out that explanation.

And with a debate continuing to run in scientific circles as to the exact reason for the formation of 'ice spikes' and why they are so rare, so there's still an air of mystery surrounding Vee's find on Pike of Blisco.