The Keswick Climbing Wall is among several sports facilities in the UK facing soaring insurance premiums.

Its next annual insurance bill will be nearly £26,000, a rise from £1,600, despite no successful claims against the business.

The problem has been put down to the number of "no-win, no-fee" personal injury compensation firms.

'Terrible shame'

John Austin, a director of the wall company, said: "We have worked really hard to keep this spot afloat, and grow it and keep it going.

"It would a terrible shame if a facility like this was lost.

"Society has got to the stage that if anyone hurts themselves or is injured, they want compensation for it."

The climbing wall was set up in 1994 as the Lake District's first dedicated indoor climbing facility, comprising of over 400 sq metres of climbing surface.