CUMBRIA County Council has received £358,000 to develop walking and cycling routes throughout the county. 

The funding has been awarded to the authority from the Department for Transport's Capability Fund and will support work to further develop prioritised routes.

This is also part of Active Travel England's £32.9million national investment in the development of walking and cycling.

These plans cover areas of Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Whitehaven, Kendal and Barrow-in-Furness. 

The funding will also be used to train local authority officers in high-quality active travel design leading to the development of cycling and walking schemes that are built on community engagement.

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: "It is fantastic news that the walking and cycling team's funding application was approved.

"This way we can encourage more people to take up walking and cycling within the county, to improve connectivity between communities, boost health and wellbeing, and tackle climate change."

READ MORE: 'Some disruptions' expected as resurfacing work on Currock Road, Carlisle begins