Blencathra was taken off the market by its owners. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Five charities will benefit from funds left over from an aborted community attempt to buy a Lake District mountain.

Friends of Blencathra said the residual cash will be split equally among the organisations.

Charities who will receive funds are: Keswick Mountain Rescue Team; Fix the Fells in partnership with the National Trust; Friends of the Lake District; Cumbria Wildlife Trust; and the Mountain Heritage Trust.

The decision is subject to final approval by the Charities Commission, but Dave Wheeler of Friends of Blencathra said he expects this to happen early next month.

Donors to the Friends who have requested their gifts be returned, should receive their cash by the end of the year, minus an administration fee.

The organisation was originally established to buy Blencathra, also known as Saddleback to local residents, when it was put up for sale to raise funds to pay an inheritance tax bill for its owner the Earl of Lonsdale.

The Friends formally declared their bid failed when the land was withdrawn from the market.

Donors were able to ‘disclaim’ their funds and it is this money that will be distributed to the five charities.

The fell, in the northern Lake District, was described by author Alfred Wainwright as ‘the mountaineers’ mountain’. It was the subject of film-maker Terry Abraham’s acclaimed Life of a Mountain: Blencathra.

The land remains in the ownership of a Lonsdale family trust.