AN EASTLEIGH park is to be one of the few across the country to play host to a major event this year.

Lakeside Country Park has been chosen as one of only 18 centres across the UK to host the Open Water Swimathon.

The national event, which will take place on September 8, is one of the largest charity events of its kind, with money raised being donated to Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

Participants will have the opportunity to take part in individual challenges -including 400m, 1.5K, 2.5K or 5K - or a team one, including 1.5K or 5K.

The event is open to both experienced open water swimmers and those who have never swum in open water before.

Triathletes Steve Cooke and Kelly Wickens, founders of HOWL Multisports – which is based at Lakeside Country Park - will be overseeing the event.

Mr Cooke said: "Since we launched at Lakeside, we’ve seen a huge rise in the number of people taking up Open Water Swimming. We host a number of courses at Lakeside from coaching triathletes who need to swim in open water, be it a lake, a river or the sea to taking a person from pool swimming to open water swimming."

Lakeside Country Park is managed by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Deputy council leader Paul Bicknell said: "We are delighted that our Lakeside Country Park can support the annual Open Water Swimathon – and to be one of only 18 centres across the UK chosen to be a centre is a real coup for the borough, putting Eastleigh on the map again. Open Water Swimathon is a social event that brings groups of people together in an outdoor environment, helping them to raise money for good causes and improve their physical fitness in the process. I wish all the participants the very best on the day and hope they enjoy the new facilities at Lakeside and can take some time to explore the rest of the park."

To take part in the event email steve@howl-multisport.co.uk.