Olympian Cassie Patten joined six lucky competitors for an exclusive training session on Lake Windermere.

The London 2012 hopeful - who will plunge into the water alongside 10,000 others at the Great North Swim - took to the shores last week to trial before the event between June 17 to 19.

The event, which has become a firm favourite on the summer swim calendar, attracts elite athletes, some famous faces and thousands of amateur swimmers to the picturesque Lake District each year.

Swimmers will complete a one, two or half mile course depending on ability at different times over the weekend.

Ms Patten said: “The Great North Swim is one of my favourite events of the summer. Friends, family and visitors line the banks of Windermere and give the whole weekend a great atmosphere with a festival feel.”

Joining the training session was BBC National Lottery Live and Euromillion’s presenter OJ Borg, who said “Open water swimming is a great challenge for people looking to improve their fitness – it’s an amazing experience to swim in this kind of environment, even if the water is a bit cold for me!”