IN RESPONSE to letter from Peter Froggatt (Letters, December 20, 'We don't need assessors'), I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the invaluable work our fell top assessors do and the Weatherline service provides during the winter months.

Each day from December until April one of the Lake District National Park Authority's three fell top assessors will climb the 950 metres to the summit of Helvellyn on a rotational basis to provide an invaluable snow and condition report to assist walkers, climbers and skiers.

This on the ground report, coupled with the Met Office’s daily weather forecast, has helped ensure people are as prepared as they can be before venturing out on the fells during winter for the past 31 years.

This service has more than 12,000 followers on Twitter and we know it is hugely valued by both residents and visitors to the area.

It’s a vitally important safety service at a time when more people than ever are visiting the fells and local mountain rescue teams are getting more call outs year on year.

Income from advertising and commercial activities linked with the Weatherline service means that it doesn’t cost the national park authority anything at all to run.

You can visit www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk for a daily update and follow @LakesWeather for all the latest news from our Fell Top Assessors.

Andy McGirl

Retail and Commercial Development Manager

Lake District National Park