Mr Bennet will job share the daily ascent

As the newest recruit to a two-man team, Jon Bennett will climb to Helvellyn's 3,117ft (950m) summit daily every other week to assess the weather.

The former hotel manager from Ambleside will join existing fell assessor, Craig Palmer, a former marine commando.

They collect information for the popular telephone Weatherline service.

The Weatherline service has been running for 33 years and helps protect the 12m annual visitors to the Lake District, where fell conditions can often change rapidly.

The team also gives advice to badly equipped walkers.

Mr Bennett said: "I'm still pinching myself - I've landed my dream job.

Safety paramount

"I've got extensive experience winter mountaineering, both here and in Scotland, have backpacked in the Swedish Artic, regularly paraglide and am a keen cyclist - on and off road.

"Carrying all the recording equipment up Helvellyn isn't going to be a problem as I'm used to having 15 kilos of paragliding kit on my back."

In a seven-day Helvellyn shift, Mr Bennett will climb almost the equivalent of reaching Everest's summit.

He added: "I have a lot of experience dealing with the public and can be diplomatic yet firm.

"Obviously safety on the fells in paramount and I want to carry on the tradition of being the eyes and ears of the mountain when I'm up there."