SWIMMERS feel they are being targeted after their car tyres were punctured at a lakeside lay-by.

There have been numerous reports online from swimmers saying they have had their tyres punctured and slashed at the small lay-by on Rayrigg Road, near Millerground, Windermere.

Scout Phoenix, from Kendal, and her friend Julie Thomas were victim to what police have now said is criminal damage.

“It makes you feel unsafe and attacked and we both felt scared and like we can’t park there anymore,” she said.

“I don’t want to be driven off by this person, they’re getting their way because now all the swimmers are frightened to park there.”

Ms Phoenix noticed her tyre had deflated on her return home after swimming at Millerground with her friend Ms Thomas last week.

“I took it to a local garage, who looked at it and he said it was a bit weird as it is a perfect hole in the side wall,” she said.

“He couldn’t think of how it could have got there because there wasn’t anything stuck in it.

“I texted Julie to say I had had a puncture and she wrote back later saying the same thing had happened to her!”

The pair, who regularly swim in the area, had both parked their cars in the lay-by.

“I thought that was very weird that we had both had a side wall puncture, at that point I didn’t think it had been malicious,” said Ms Phoenix.

The swimmer decided to post her experience in local Facebook group Cumbria Open Water Swimmers.

“A deluge of people said yes that happened to me and then I thought I’ll put it in another group called South Lakes Open Water Swimmers.”

On joining the group Ms Phoenix discovered that a notice had gone up in the vicinity of the lay-by warning swimmers that it was, “designated National Trust parking for Millerground Cottage, Low Millerground Cottage and the farmland on Adelaide Hill."

Adding: “This is not an SLDC car park and if abuse of the parking continues, restrictions will be put in place.”

The Westmorland Gazette: WARNING: The sign to swimmers about parkingWARNING: The sign to swimmers about parking

“That made me think people are angry,” said Ms Phoenix.

“I get if people are blocking the gate you have a right to be angry, but what I couldn’t believe was that someone would be malevolent enough to puncture our tyres, not only causing property damage, the cost to people but also the guy I went to said this kind of puncture can go flat in an instant.

“We could have been killed or injured or caused an accident because of the nature of the puncture.

“I can’t believe anyone would do that.”

Bobbi Fisher, also from Kendal, has been swimming at Millerground for the last year and has ‘never had any issues’ but has read about many swimmers being affected and is now avoiding parking in the lay-by.

“Obviously during lockdown lots of people would go swimming. We were allowed to go in ones or twos,” she said.

“The situation over the summer – it got quite busy, not necessarily with local swimmers, and I think it’s quite possible a local resident has got a bit cross with it all.

“It’s made me disappointed, certainly for us regular swimmers that to treat the area with respect that now feel attacked by it and now feel we can’t freely park in a public lay-by.”

Ms Phoenix and Thomas reported the incident to the police, who have urged those with information to get in touch.

A spokesman said: “Police have been made aware of two incidents of reported criminal damage. The incidents occurred at Rayrigg Road Carpark, Windermere, between December 3 and 4.

“The tyres of two cars have been damaged during the incidents.

“Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area on either dates.

“Anyone with any information can contact police by calling 101, and referencing either incident number 123 of December 3 and 34 of December 4.