The Lake District is world-renowned for its naturally rugged fells and towering climbing peaks but one group is hoping to make an equally eye-catching man-made addition to the beauty spot a pyramid.

A group calling itself Atlantis Pyramid has its sights set on building a 200ft by 200ft structure better associated with the arid plains of the Egyptian desert than the lush, green landscape of the Lake District.

Billed as a monument to the human species', the group is preparing to embark on a vast public relations exercise to gain support for the project - called The Lakes Pyramid - which has already been met with a frosty reception from Lake District groups.

Member of Atlantis Pyramid, Peter Constantine, said the pyramid would be practical as well as symbolic and would be a visitor attraction and learning centre designed to educate and inspire.

He said it would also act as a repository of knowledge and would effectively become a huge time capsule when the human species was wiped out.

If built, the Lakes Pyramid would be one of many Atlantis Pyramid hopes to build across the globe to establish neutral areas' in each country promoting global harmony, explained the Lancaster resident.

Atlantis Pyramid is already planning to build a massive 700ft footprint pyramid in the Middle East to celebrate the past, present and future of mankind as the epicentre to this global phenomenon.

"The Lake District appeared to be the natural choice in England," Mr Constantine told the Gazette.

"The plans are still a long way from being finalised and it would cost tens of millions of pounds and a lot of time to built it.

"The Lakes Pyramid is certainly not a joke it is a very serious venture but it will take some time to achieve as the best things always do."

Mr Constantine stressed any pyramid would be sensitively located in the Lake District, so that it would have minimum impact on the surrounding environment, although he accepted it may be difficult persuading planners.

"The Lakes Pyramid is about getting into people's mindset and making them think about the human race as a species," he said.

"The pyramid has the potential to benefit the Lake District and its residents greatly by creating more jobs and building on its reputation as a major global attraction."

Now Atlantis Pyramid is to start raising awareness, and the cash, for the project and intends to contact relevant parties.

Mick Casey, spokesman for the LDNPA, remained tight-lipped when asked if a pyramid would be welcome in the park a notoriously difficult area to gain planning permission for major developments.

"We would have to wait for a planning application to arrive before the matter would be considered," he said.

Cumbria Tourist Board appeared to predict the LDNPA's decision.

"I cannot ever see a situation where the national park authority, or any other authority, would be comfortable about a development like this as a permanent feature," said director of development Richard Greenwood.

The Friends of the Lake District also dismissed the idea, describing a pyramid as "inappropriate".

To find out more about The Lakes Pyramid visit www.thelakespyramid.co.uk/body_index.html