CIVIL disobedience broke out on Coniston Water on the August Bank Holiday as Windermere speed limit protestors took to the lake to deliberately break the law.

There has been a 10mph speed limit for powered boats on Coniston Water for some years, but the controversial by-law is due to be extended to Windermere next year, outlawing water-skiing and other power-boating activities on the last Lake District waters where they were allowed.

Protestors are promising to step up their campaign to get the Lake District National Park Authority to change its mind as the March 2005 deadline approaches.

Matt Royle of Windermere Action Force was among the activists on Coniston Water on Monday, August 30. He said: "It was a great success from our point of view. There were 10 boats out there all day on the water.

"There were people water-skiing, wake-boarding and towing inflatables at more than 10mph."

A spokesman for Cumbria police confirmed its officers were involved at the weekend and said there were 15 boats breaking the law on the lake.

Several people were warned about their behaviour and the names of two boat drivers had been passed by police to the Crown Prosecution Service and may now face charges of speeding on the lake.

See News - Lakes Towns for the full story.