This week, alongside millions across the world, we marked International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

To commemorate the day, we complied a list of the most influential and inspirational women from the county.

From modern day inspirations to historic figures, we named a host of significant female figures that have hailed from Cumbria.

We also heard about the impressive Stella Rimington who was a former Director General for MI5- the first woman to take such a high ranking post in the security service. She is also thought to be the basis for the character ‘M’ in the James Bond franchise.

Alongside her we heard about Notably, India Willoughby, who made history becoming Britain’s first transgender TV journalist and the world-famous Beatrix Potter who published dozens of books during her lifetime, the most notable of which are The Tale of Peter Rabbit; when it was published in 1902 it was an instant best seller.

In the comments, readers were quick to express their pride at the plethora of great names that have hailed from our region.

Reader John Hastings added his own list of heroes into the mix.

He hailed the following names: “Rio & Steffi Hardy - the Workington born twin sisters who have just won their 3rd successive Cyprus Women’s Football League title with Apollon Limassol.

“Also Nicki French - born in Carlisle, she has had a fantastic singing career including a 1995 worldwide hit with her version of Total Eclipse Of The Heart & representing the UK at Eurovision in 2000.”

Fellow reader Anne Pickles added that some of Cumbria’s most impressive women maybe don’t draw the headlines but equally deserve recognition:

“Some of the strongest, most impressive, hard-working, inspirational women are Cumbrian women. The others are in Yorkshire. Northern, certainly. And they never made ‘celebrity’ status. Let’s celebrate them!”