A European Union grant for flood recovery of more than £50m was reduced to virtually nothing, once deductions, the cost of the application, and paying a fine for spending the last similar grant on ineligible purposes, were taken into account;
It will be cloudy and murky overnight, with the return of fog patches. Some drizzle will linger on higher ground. But the cloud cover will prevent it from getting too cold, with lows of 5C (41F).
BBCCopyright: BBC
You can find the latest weather forecast for where you are here.
Travel: Trains held up by locomotive breakdown
BBC Travel
Virgin West Coast and Transpennine Express train services are at a standstill between Oxenholme and Penrith because of a broken down train.
Plans for the future use of a former south Cumbrian lido have gone on public display today.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Grange's outdoor swimming pool dates back to the 1930s but hasn't been used for more than 20 years.
Today the public were invited to give their views on the options for the listed site. The display at the Victoria Hall is open until 19:00.
Possible uses include a cafe, education space or an area for recreational activities. Officials say bringing the pool back into use is not an option.
Weather on the fell tops: Cooler, but still no snow
Temperatures at 3,000ft: 2C.
Winds: Mainly moderate southwesterly.
Cloud: Generally large amounts of cloud around 1,500ft (450m), with patches at 1,000ft (300m) in any rain, locally broken at 2,000ft (600m) during the afternoon in the east.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, very poor in hill fog.
Freezing level: Just above the summits.
The Lake District rangers who report on the conditions above 3,000ft said the main problem today was navigation in the poor visibility.
Overseas staff help fill the gaps in Cumbria's ambulance service
Paramedics recruited from Europe have helped Cumbria's ambulance service overcome a staffing problem, according to managers.
The North West Ambulance Service was classed as requiring improvement after the latest inspection last summer, with shortage of staff being one of the problems.
Ged Blezard, the operations director, said the service was now fully staffed in Cumbria.
He said: "We've also recruited some international paramedics from Poland and Finland, about 24 staff have been placed in north Cumbria, which has had a significant impact on that vacancy gap there."
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Resurfacing will mean road is closed overnight
The A685 between Kendal and Grayrigg will be closed overnight next week for resurfacing.
The stretch being worked on is from the Morrisons junction to Paddy Lane.
Are you up for the FA People's Cup?
#peoplescup
Ever dreamed of lifting a trophy on the pitch at Wembley? Well, here's your chance.
BBC Get Inspired has again teamed up with the Football Association to launch the 2017 FA People's Cup, a free five-a-side knockout competition that gives the people of England the chance to play in their version of the FA Cup.Watch as Radio 1Xtra DJ Nick Bright shows his (almost) silky ball skills, while explaining how you can get involved - and for all the information you need, read our Get Inspired guide.
How to enjoy an afternoon in two ways at once
Cricket and fell-walking? If those are your choice, what a combination...
One in four of county's schools 'fall below target'
Nine of Cumbria's 38 secondary schools are under-performing, according to a new government measure.
ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock
The county comes out 14th from the bottom of a table of more than 150 areas.
The new figures measure the performance of students across eight GCSE subjects, from when they start secondary school to when they leave. The previous tables were judged on the proportion of pupils achieving at least five good grades.
The new statistics are seen as fairer because they compare the progress pupils make, rather than how well they do in exams.
Licensed trade, police and schools team up to reduce underage drinking
A new group to deal with what's called the "acute problem" of underage drinking in Barrow, starts operating today.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Representatives from the police, councils, schools and shops are joining together to form a Community Alcohol Partnership, the first in Cumbria.
The first meeting today will start training retail staff how best to stop young people buying drink.
Insp Matt Pearman from Cumbria Police says there will also be school visits to persuade young people that there are other ways to spend their leisure time
He said: "For example, a lot of young people are very image-focussed and we can educate them about the damaging effect that alcohol can have on their bodies and the way their bodies look."
Quote Message: I do think we have an acute problem that is starting to get a lot worse." from Councillor Tony Callister Chairman, Barrow Licensing Committee
I do think we have an acute problem that is starting to get a lot worse."
Man taken to hospital after house fire
A man was treated in hospital after a fire in Carlisle this morning.
Firefighters were called to a house in Cranbourne Road at 08:00. It took just over an hour-and-a half to deal with the fire and clear the house of smoke.
Farron questions minister over 'back of the queue' hill farmers
The Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has urged ministers to make sure farmers who had to wait months for their government payments last year don't have to wait again this year.
The farmers involved use commonland for grazing, which means the basic payment calclulations are more complicated.
BBCCopyright: BBC
The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP told the Secretary of State for Defra, Andrea Leadsom, this morning, that nearly 50 farmers who'd had their payments delayed last year, had been told they'd have to wait again this year.
"Will she commit to make sure those farmers who were at the back of the queue last year, will be at the front of the queue this year?" asked Mr Farron.
Mrs Leadsom said many commonland farmers had been paid. She said: "In terms of this year many commons have been paid, and right across the board and in fact we're up at 92.8% t of payments so far which is a good achievement compared to last year."
It will remain cloudy this afternoon, with a few breaks in the cloud across eastern parts. The winds will stay light and temperatures will get to about 8C (46F).
BBCCopyright: BBC
You can find the latest forecast for where you are here.
New website gives advice for crime victims
Victims of crime in Cumbria are being given extra support and advice through leaflets and a new website.
Cumbria Police says it's giving people access to information on how cases are dealt with and how they can help officers with their investigation.
The force says it has brought agencies together including Witness Care Unit and Victim Support to create the leaflet and the webpage.
Watch: A flock of starlings dances across the sky
Through the winter starlings preparing to roost will often perform a murmuration, flying and swooping back and forth as a single flock across the sky.
Friends of the Lake District captured this film of a huge flock at their reserve at Little Asby, near Kirkby Stephen.
The local government minister Andrew Percy said: "“Conservatives in Government have delivered £300m to help flood-hit communities. It’s disappointing that the legacy of mismanagement by the Labour Government means there is no extra money.
“But Liberal Democrats are misleading the public by suggesting there’s some EU magic money tree. UK taxpayers’ give out far more than we ever get back from Brussels."
We've asked the Labour party for a response, but there's been no answer so far.
Majority of EU flooding cash eaten up by deductions and fine
It's emerged that millions of Euros allocated to help flood-hit regions of Britain by the European Union will almost all be soaked up by various costs and deductions.
But because of the way the UK's rebate works, and the costs of drawing up the application for the money so it complied "with the complex rules of the Fund", only 17m Euros, or about £15m was paid.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Of that, the minister said, £14.5m was given back to Brussels, because the UK had been fined for ineligible spending with a previous grant in 2007 by the then Labour government, so only about £500,000 was left.
The minister said: "Consequently, this funding does not offer additional support, but is only eligible to reimburse a small portion of the extensive financial support that has already been given by the Government to the areas affected."
United's youngsters knocked out by Foxes
BBC Cumbria
Carlisle United's youngsters went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Leicester City in the FA Youth Cup Fourth Round last night.
United had gone 2-0 down within the first 25 minutes before Cameron Salkeld pulled back a goal just before the break.
Midfielder Jack Egan then hit the crossbar in the final minute.
Live Reporting
Martin Lewes
All times stated are UK
Get involved
- Cumbria's ambulance service has met regulators' criticisms about low staffing, partly by recruiting paramedics from Poland and Finland;
- A European Union grant for flood recovery of more than £50m was reduced to virtually nothing, once deductions, the cost of the application, and paying a fine for spending the last similar grant on ineligible purposes, were taken into account;
- A new system of measuring state secondary schools by the progress pupils made while they were there, suggested one in four of Cumbria's schools were well below the national average.
BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC - Temperatures at 3,000ft: 2C.
- Winds: Mainly moderate southwesterly.
- Cloud: Generally large amounts of cloud around 1,500ft (450m), with patches at 1,000ft (300m) in any rain, locally broken at 2,000ft (600m) during the afternoon in the east.
- Visibility: Moderate or poor, very poor in hill fog.
- Freezing level: Just above the summits.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images View more on twitterView more on twitter ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC View more on facebookView more on facebook BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC
Latest PostAtkinson leaves Carlisle for Blyth
Defender David Atkinson leaves League Two side Carlisle United by mutual consent and joins Blyth Spartans.
Read moreThrough the day: BBC Cumbria Live
Martin Lewes
Reporter
We've now finished posting news, travel reports and the odd snippet from social networks and the like, until tomorrow.
A quick reminder of some of the main points:
We'll be back to do it again from 08:00 tomorrow. Have a very good evening.
Cumbria's weather: Cloudy, murky and drizzly
BBC Weather
It will be cloudy and murky overnight, with the return of fog patches. Some drizzle will linger on higher ground. But the cloud cover will prevent it from getting too cold, with lows of 5C (41F).
You can find the latest weather forecast for where you are here.
Travel: Trains held up by locomotive breakdown
BBC Travel
Virgin West Coast and Transpennine Express train services are at a standstill between Oxenholme and Penrith because of a broken down train.
The latest travel news is here.
Grange people get chance to see pool options
Plans for the future use of a former south Cumbrian lido have gone on public display today.
Grange's outdoor swimming pool dates back to the 1930s but hasn't been used for more than 20 years.
Today the public were invited to give their views on the options for the listed site. The display at the Victoria Hall is open until 19:00.
Possible uses include a cafe, education space or an area for recreational activities. Officials say bringing the pool back into use is not an option.
Weather on the fell tops: Cooler, but still no snow
The Lake District rangers who report on the conditions above 3,000ft said the main problem today was navigation in the poor visibility.
Overseas staff help fill the gaps in Cumbria's ambulance service
Paramedics recruited from Europe have helped Cumbria's ambulance service overcome a staffing problem, according to managers.
The North West Ambulance Service was classed as requiring improvement after the latest inspection last summer, with shortage of staff being one of the problems.
Ged Blezard, the operations director, said the service was now fully staffed in Cumbria.
He said: "We've also recruited some international paramedics from Poland and Finland, about 24 staff have been placed in north Cumbria, which has had a significant impact on that vacancy gap there."
Resurfacing will mean road is closed overnight
The A685 between Kendal and Grayrigg will be closed overnight next week for resurfacing.
The stretch being worked on is from the Morrisons junction to Paddy Lane.
Are you up for the FA People's Cup?
#peoplescup
Ever dreamed of lifting a trophy on the pitch at Wembley? Well, here's your chance.
BBC Get Inspired has again teamed up with the Football Association to launch the 2017 FA People's Cup, a free five-a-side knockout competition that gives the people of England the chance to play in their version of the FA Cup.Watch as Radio 1Xtra DJ Nick Bright shows his (almost) silky ball skills, while explaining how you can get involved - and for all the information you need, read our Get Inspired guide.
How to enjoy an afternoon in two ways at once
Cricket and fell-walking? If those are your choice, what a combination...
One in four of county's schools 'fall below target'
Nine of Cumbria's 38 secondary schools are under-performing, according to a new government measure.
The county comes out 14th from the bottom of a table of more than 150 areas.
The new figures measure the performance of students across eight GCSE subjects, from when they start secondary school to when they leave. The previous tables were judged on the proportion of pupils achieving at least five good grades.
You can find the tables here.
The new statistics are seen as fairer because they compare the progress pupils make, rather than how well they do in exams.
Licensed trade, police and schools team up to reduce underage drinking
A new group to deal with what's called the "acute problem" of underage drinking in Barrow, starts operating today.
Representatives from the police, councils, schools and shops are joining together to form a Community Alcohol Partnership, the first in Cumbria.
The first meeting today will start training retail staff how best to stop young people buying drink.
Insp Matt Pearman from Cumbria Police says there will also be school visits to persuade young people that there are other ways to spend their leisure time
He said: "For example, a lot of young people are very image-focussed and we can educate them about the damaging effect that alcohol can have on their bodies and the way their bodies look."
Man taken to hospital after house fire
A man was treated in hospital after a fire in Carlisle this morning.
Firefighters were called to a house in Cranbourne Road at 08:00. It took just over an hour-and-a half to deal with the fire and clear the house of smoke.
Farron questions minister over 'back of the queue' hill farmers
The Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has urged ministers to make sure farmers who had to wait months for their government payments last year don't have to wait again this year.
The farmers involved use commonland for grazing, which means the basic payment calclulations are more complicated.
The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP told the Secretary of State for Defra, Andrea Leadsom, this morning, that nearly 50 farmers who'd had their payments delayed last year, had been told they'd have to wait again this year.
"Will she commit to make sure those farmers who were at the back of the queue last year, will be at the front of the queue this year?" asked Mr Farron.
Mrs Leadsom said many commonland farmers had been paid. She said: "In terms of this year many commons have been paid, and right across the board and in fact we're up at 92.8% t of payments so far which is a good achievement compared to last year."
Cumbria's weather: Grey again
BBC Weather
It will remain cloudy this afternoon, with a few breaks in the cloud across eastern parts. The winds will stay light and temperatures will get to about 8C (46F).
You can find the latest forecast for where you are here.
New website gives advice for crime victims
Victims of crime in Cumbria are being given extra support and advice through leaflets and a new website.
Cumbria Police says it's giving people access to information on how cases are dealt with and how they can help officers with their investigation.
The force says it has brought agencies together including Witness Care Unit and Victim Support to create the leaflet and the webpage.
Watch: A flock of starlings dances across the sky
Through the winter starlings preparing to roost will often perform a murmuration, flying and swooping back and forth as a single flock across the sky.
Friends of the Lake District captured this film of a huge flock at their reserve at Little Asby, near Kirkby Stephen.
Ministers on flood grant: 'There's no EU magic money tree'
Ministers have defended their support for flood-hit communities after it emerged that more than £50m in a European grant had either been soaked up by administrative costs, or sent back to Brussels to pay a fine incurred by Labour ministers after they spent a previous grant on inelegible purposes.
The Cumbrian MP and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the Conservative government was being "mean-spirited" by not passing the money on to areas like Cumbria.
The local government minister Andrew Percy said: "“Conservatives in Government have delivered £300m to help flood-hit communities. It’s disappointing that the legacy of mismanagement by the Labour Government means there is no extra money.
“But Liberal Democrats are misleading the public by suggesting there’s some EU magic money tree. UK taxpayers’ give out far more than we ever get back from Brussels."
We've asked the Labour party for a response, but there's been no answer so far.
Majority of EU flooding cash eaten up by deductions and fine
It's emerged that millions of Euros allocated to help flood-hit regions of Britain by the European Union will almost all be soaked up by various costs and deductions.
A statement by the local government minister Andrew Percy (pictured) said the EU had allocated 60m Euros (£51.9m) in "solidarity funding".
But because of the way the UK's rebate works, and the costs of drawing up the application for the money so it complied "with the complex rules of the Fund", only 17m Euros, or about £15m was paid.
Of that, the minister said, £14.5m was given back to Brussels, because the UK had been fined for ineligible spending with a previous grant in 2007 by the then Labour government, so only about £500,000 was left.
The minister said: "Consequently, this funding does not offer additional support, but is only eligible to reimburse a small portion of the extensive financial support that has already been given by the Government to the areas affected."
United's youngsters knocked out by Foxes
BBC Cumbria
Carlisle United's youngsters went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Leicester City in the FA Youth Cup Fourth Round last night.
United had gone 2-0 down within the first 25 minutes before Cameron Salkeld pulled back a goal just before the break.
Midfielder Jack Egan then hit the crossbar in the final minute.