Call for more diverse Lake District sparks row over area's future

National park's boss accused of using the issue of diversity to turn region into a 'theme park'

The head of the Lake District national park authority (LDNPA) has been accused of using the issue of diversity to push through commercial development schemes that would put the area's Unesco world heritage status at risk.

Richard Leafe, the longstanding chief executive of the LDNPA in Cumbria, said the park was too white and middle-class and called for change to make it more inclusive.