A BOAT operator who tried in vain to rescue a drowning man from the depths of Ullswater, said he had warned before it was "only a matter of time" before there was a tragic accident.

Forty-six-year-old Raymond Didcock, from Braintree, Essex, drowned on Thursday afternoon when he got into difficulties while on an inflatable with his two children at the Lake District beauty spot in Pooley Bridge.

Despite a desperate attempt to save Mr Didcock, Damien Finnigan, of Lakeland Boat Hire, said the water was too deep.

Mr Finnigan said he had helped people on a number of occasions who had got into trouble on the lake and had warned in the past it was only a matter of time before there was a tragedy.

"I said before it is only a matter of time before we are saying what if?' after somebody drowns."

He said there was a lack of signage advising people to prepare appropriately before entering the lake.

Police said Mr Didock had fallen from the inflatable into the water at around 3.35pm. However, rescuers were unable to locate Mr Didcock and several hours later his body was recovered from the water.

Spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary Mike Head warned that lake waters could be dangerously deceptive.

"The water can be very cold, even after warm weather. If people go in the water it can affect them and can make swimming very dangerous it is usually only the top five to six inches of the water that is warm, below that it is freezing. He added: "We would advise people to wear life jackets in any craft on the lake."