A special celebration with champagne, music and confetti was held as the oldest Ullswater steamer marked her birthday.

In her 140 years of sailing on Ullswater, M.Y Lady of the Lake has sunk twice, been burned in a fire and travelled about 400,000 miles - more than 16 times around the world.

The vessel celebrated her 140th birthday today with music from Penrith Town Bad, speeches, and, of course, a cruise around Ullswater with more than 100 guests.

A bottle of champagne was broken over her bows and colourful confetti shot out of cannons as she set sail.

Peter Hensman, chairman of Ullswater Steamers, said: "She's such a gracious and beautiful boat, I think it's really exciting that she's got to 140."

Mr Hensman gave a speech about the boat's history from M.Y Lady of the Lake to guests gathered on the pier at Glenridding.

Her journey began in the imagination of Douglas Henson, of Penrith, who designed her, and she was then built at Rutherglen near Glasgow. She was transported in three sections by rail to Penrith and then by horse and cart to Waterside near Pooley Bridge, where she was assembled.

She was launched on 26 June, 1877, and was a steam powered boat until she was converted to diesel in 1935.

In 1889, her speed was put to the test as she was raced against her new sister ship Raven between Sandwick and Patterdale. Much to the delight of her crew, Lady of the Lake arrived first.

Lady of the Lake first sank in November 1881 at her moorings and had to be rescued by some divers from Liverpool. She sank again in 1958 when she was moored at Pooley Bridge and a storm blew in, bringing waves over the top and eventually sinking her. Firefighters were able to rescue her and she was quickly restored and put back to work.

The worst, however, was yet to come as in 1965 Lady of the Lake was very badly damaged in a fire while on the slipway at Watergate. As business wasn't doing too well at the time, the decision was made not to restore her and she stayed put for 14 years.

When business picked up again in the 1970s, Ullswater Steamers decided to refurbish her and she returned to the water in May 1979.

Graeme Connacher, skipper of Lady of the Lake, remembered seeing the burnt out boat when he was on holidays in the Lake District as a child. Years later he returned to work on the Ullswater Steamers, where he has stayed for 24 happy years.

He said: "I think from a personal point of view, the one thing I find amazing is The Lady is not in a museum. In real terms she's been earning her keep the whole time she's been her.

"I think a lot of the visitors come because we have got graceful old boats."

The granddaughter and great-granddaughters of Captain Thomas Thompson, who captained Lady of the Lake and Enterprise before her in the 19th century, were at the ceremony today.

Ann Faulkner, 93, of Penrith, who is the Captain's granddaughter and who grew up in Patterdale, said it was lovely to be back for the celebration.

Children from Stainton C of E Primary School in Penrith and St Patricks C of E in Endmoor were also very excited for their cruise. They had made birthday cards with drawings and paintings of the steamer and wrote about why Ullswater was special to them.

Katie Gracie, year three class teacher of Stainton School, said: "They were quite inspired by it. They loved the history of it."