BBC Local Live: Cumbria

There are fears a shortage of staff could force the closure of two of Cumbria's smaller hospitals.

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said it was facing "severe challenges" due to vacancies, annual leave and sickness.

It said the situation at Maryport and Cockermouth hospitals was "fragile".

A silent protest is being held outside Maryport's Victoria Cottage Hospital, and a campaign to keep it open has attracted 7,000 signatures.  

It'll be a muggy evening with some more drizzle possible.Temperatures are unlikely to fall much below 15C (60F).

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You can find the latest forecast for where you are, here.

Judith Denwood sent this panorama from Bassenthwaite Sailing club

Judith DenwoodCopyright: Judith Denwood

If you've a picture you'd like to share or news we should know about, you can send it to @BBC_Cumbria, email us at cumbria.locallive@bbc.co.uk or post on our Facebook page.  

Time was when making lace was a major industry in some rural areas.

Farfield Mill at Sedbergh was rather more known for heavier stuff; once its looms made tweeds from the wool of Rough Fell sheep, powered by the waters of the River Clough.

Now it's an art and design centre and it's holding the 40th exhibition of the Lace Guild until September. Here's a couple of the exhibits.

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BBCCopyright: BBC

A Cumbrian comedian is looking forward to meeting one of his sporting heroes, when he arrives in the region next month.

The family doctors who run Cumbria's health services through the Clinical Commissioning Group say they've been trying to help recruit staff for the cottage hospitals that serve nine communities in North and West Cumbria.

Recruitment problems and other issues mean three could stop taking in-patients under plans going out to public consultation in the autumn.

Dr David Rogers, who's medical director for the Cumbria CCG, said: “Staffing a small number of beds means a small team, which means if one member of staff goes off it can have a huge impact. The recruitment issues we face are not unique to Cumbria, but are a real concern for us.”

Some of the 23,000 fans and dozens of performers who filled Lowther Deer Park for the Kendal Calling Festival at the weekend have been  giving their reviews, complete with pictures. Here's a selection.

And the management has responded:

Staff and new parents at the maternity unit at Barrow's Furness General Hospital are taking part in an experiment where new fathers or other relatives can stay on after the birth.

UHMBTCopyright: UHMBT

New parents like Nick and Sadie Edmondson are among 30 couples where either the partner or a birthing supporter has stayed over, and staff say the reaction's been extremely positive.

The pilot is part of a national programme to try to improve care given in NHS hospitals.

Paul Kingston, a freelance photographer with North News and Pictures, has been shortlisted for the title of World Weather Photographer of the Year with this picture of waves breaking at Whitehaven.

You can vote for a winner here.

NORTH NEWS AND PICTURESCopyright: NORTH NEWS AND PICTURES

Paul's pictures - of weather and other subjects - are widely admired and often make the national newspapers.

A walker who slipped coming down Scale Fell on Blencathra and broke his ankle was treated and carried off the hill by Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.

Keswick MRTCopyright: Keswick MRT

Team members say they "sledged" the casualty down through thick bracken on a stretcher before handing him over to the ambulance service to go to the Cumberland Infirmary at Carlisle.

Work is getting under way to repair flood damage to Botcherby Bridge in Carlisle.

A number of parapets that were weakened during Storm Desmond will be strengthened.

The Environment Agency says it wants to make sure the bridge is strong enough to withstand the winter, but its long-term future is still being discussed.

The thick layer of cloud across Cumbria will persist and there's also a risk of seeing a scattering of showers and some drizzle throughout the afternoon. 

It'll feel quite muggy with highs of 18C (64F).

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You can find the latest forecast for where you are, here.

Dozens of people lobbied senior health officials who visited Maryport Hospital today to discuss whether it should cater for inpatients in future.

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The hospitals one of nine being reviewed by a team called a "success regime", which it trying to sort out health service problems across the area.

The team's "emerging thinking" is that the hospital is too small to staff properly and patients would be better off at home, but local people see it as a key facility for the community.

Quote Message: It's something they value and something they don't want to lose"

It's something they value and something they don't want to lose"

Three of the nine cottage hospitals in North and West Cumbria could stop having in-patients in what's described as "current thinking".

Speaking in Maryport this morning Sir Neil McKay, chairman of the success regime team which is sorting out health service problems in the area, said the small hospitals were difficult to staff and patients were better off at home if an integrated care system could be set up.

He said the team's current approach was to take beds out of the hospitals at Maryport, Wigton and Alston, but these plans would not go ahead until after three months of public consultation in the autumn.

BAE Systems has signed a £67m contract to add an extension to the huge Devonshire Dock construction hall at the Barrow shipyard.

BAE SystemsCopyright: BAE Systems

Allan Day, who's director of the site redevelopment programme, says the first steelwork has already been put up for the building, which will be used for the rest of the Astute programme and for the Successor project to replace Britain's Trident fleet of nuclear submarines.

Dozens of people gathered outside Maryport Cottage Hospital this morning to oppose the closure of beds because of staff shortages there.

BBC Radio Cumbria's political reporter Bob Cooper was there and posted this video on Facebook.

Mountain rescuers say the Lords Rake gully, between Scafell and Scafell Pike, still needs care after a rock pillar that has leaned across the ravine for about 10 years finally crumbled and fell.

Wasdale MRTCopyright: Wasdale MRT

The huge rock and jumble of boulders just behind this member of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team is all that now remains of the impressive chockstone, as it was known.

Mike Gullen, one of the team leaders, said: "As always, people walking in such areas should remain vigilant for falling rocks and go out suitably dressed and experienced for such a route."

The trust that runs the cottage hospitals in nine communities across North Cumbria says it's struggling to recruit staff, with only one qualified nurse on duty at times.

The worst position is at Alston where 59% of posts are vacant. 

On Friday the Cumbria Partnership trust announced that the hospital would only provide day services, with four patients being discharged or moved to Brampton.

But at Maryport more than 50% of posts are unfilled, with a serious position at Cockermouth. 

Claire Molloy, the trust chief executive, says the situation can only continue for a few more weeks, adding: "We are beginning to see the signs of stress in our staff due to the additional demands being placed on them.”

The Herdwick sheep of the Lake District can live out in all weathers, but they do look happiest when it's warm and dry.

Campbell Sheppard from Darlington saw this one taking in the view from Helm Crag above Grasmere and sent us the photograph.

Campbell SheppardCopyright: Campbell Sheppard

We're always happy to see your pictures: you can send them using Twitter where we're @BBC_Cumbria, by emailing us at cumbria.locallive@bbc.co.uk or by posting on our Facebook page.