FIRE fighters are tonight tackling a major blaze at Windermere Aquatic.

Crews from Windermere, Kendal, Barrow, Staveley and Ambleside were called to the scene at around 7.15pm.

Video by Gary Johnson

The fire in the two-storey commercial building on Glebe Road, which contains around 50 boats, was well alight on arrival.

A spokesman for the fire service said that there were no reports of anyone being in the building at the time.

There are around 44 firefighters at the scene, six pumping appliances, two Land Rovers and they are using three main jets, two breathing apparatus and foam.

A fire service boat is tackling the blaze from the water.

An aerial ladder platform has also been brought in from Barrow.

Some 30 bystanders have been watching the drama unfold among them directors of Windermere Aquatics.

It is believed that five power boats worth thousands of pounds have been completely destroyed and many more are smoke damaged.

Windermere Aquatics director Jill Henderson was at the scene.

She told the Westmorland Gazette: "I did not know what to expect when I got the call to say that it was a fire.

"I absolutely feared the worst. A lot of damage has been caused but considering how many boats were in the building I think that we have got away lightly.