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Live Reporting

Martin Lewes

All times stated are UK

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  1. As it happened: BBC Cumbria Live

    Martin Lewes

    Reporter

    We have now finished our news, travel reports, weather forecasts and the odd lighter spark from Cumbria's social networks for today.  

    We had a late-breaking story coming in about the closure of a government office in Barrow with more than 80 people facing an uncertain future -  you can find more here.

    Otherwise, it was quite a busy day:

    We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow.  As always, you can contact us if you have a photograph you'd like to share with the county, or if you have news you think we should know.

    You can email ustweet us or get in touch through our Facebook page

    Have a good evening.

  2. Cumbria's weather: Low cloud, fog and frost

    BBC Weather

    There will be low cloud in places, mist and fog will affect many parts, and it will feel cold with a widespread frost and brisk winds. 

    Strong winds are likely along coasts and over hills. 

    The lowest temperatures will be about -2C (28F).  

    Weather graphic

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

  3. M6 crash: Driver's injuries 'not thought to be life-threatening'

    Police now say that the driver of the lorry which overturned off the M6 this afternoon is not thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

    There is still slow traffic on the southbound carriageway between junctions 41 and 40 near Penrith.

    The latest travel news is here.

  4. Striking new restaurant at Michelin-starred Lakes hotel

    The Samling is one of the Lake District's top hotels and restaurants, with a Michelin star and a striking view down Windermere.

    Now it has been showing off its new extension to other business people from the tourism industry.

    View more on twitter
  5. BreakingDWP staff face uncertain future as Barrow office closes

    A government office in Barrow is to close with the possible loss of more than 70 jobs.

    A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman confirmed the offices in the Phoenix House block would be closing. 

    She said some of the 83 people who work there would be able to transfer to another DWP office in the town, at Craven House, but those who could not, and were unable to move to offices elsewhere in the country, would lose their jobs.

    A statement from the PCS union said the closure was one of a number across the country, including one in 10 Jobcentres.

    PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We are opposed to these closures and will vigorously fight any attempt to force DWP workers out of their jobs.”

    The Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said the news would be a terrible worry for the workforce and flew in the face of government promises to move jobs into the regions. He's meeting staff tomorrow evening.

  6. Attack 'ringleader' jailed jailed after beating man in his home

    A man described as the "ringleader" of an attack on a man in his home has been jailed for 18 months at Carlisle Crown Court.

    David Nicholson, 42, from Victory Crescent in Maryport, launched a flurry of punches at Philip Barkhouse in the small hours of 19 December 2015.

    His accomplice Philip Holding, 40, of Coronation Street Maryport, kicked Mr Barkhouse in the head.

    They both pleaded guilty to assault, occasioning actual bodily harm at Carlisle Crown Court.

    Holding was given a suspended 16-month sentence, and ordered to carry out unpaid work and pay Mr Barkhouse compensation.

  7. Police commissioner says child protection report is 'balanced'

    The man elected to oversee policing in Cumbria has welcomed what he called a "balanced" official report which says officers in the county need to improve the way they deal with vulnerable children

    After HM Inspectorate of Constabulary inspected Cumbria police in July, it has recommended improvements in how child protection investigations are carried out. 

    Peter McCall

    The county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, says children are probably safer in Cumbria than many other places, but they still need protecting here.

    He said: "I wouldn't want to sound complacent - children are vulnerable by the very fact that they are children, and we have to do everything we possibly can to protect them."  

  8. Truck leaves motorway near Penrith

    A heavy goods vehicle crashed off the southbound carriageway and turned over between the two Penrith junctions, 41 and 40, this afternoon.

    M6 accident showing overturned truck and air ambulance

    An air ambulance has been called but as yet there's no word on the condition of the driver.

  9. MP urges 'rapid improvement' after inspectors criticise police

    The Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock has reacted angrily to a report which criticises Cumbria Police for their handling of children at risk.

    The report from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary said cases were sometimes handed to officers who didn't have the necessary training and in some cases action was not taken quickly enough on allegations of sexual exploitation.

    The force has already given additional training to 600 officers on how to spot signs of sexual abuse and what to do about it.

    John Woodcock

    Mr Woodcock said there were examples of good practice but also too many "chilling examples" of child sex victims not getting proper protection.

    He said: "The multiple failures outlined by the HMIC are stark and point to horrible abuse going undetected and offenders going unpunished. Rapid improvement is essential to safeguard our community."   

  10. Alston man admits downloading child pictures

    A 42-year-old man has admitted downloading nearly 700 indecent pictures of children from the Internet.

    David Novak, 42, from Jollybeard Gate, Alston, admitted four charges relating to the pictures, more than a third of which were in the most serious category, when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court.

    Judge Peter Hughes QC asked for probation service reports and said he would pass sentence on 22 February.

  11. Copeland councillors come out against Moorside plyons

    Councillors in West Cumbria have criticised a plan to use a line of pylons to link the new nuclear power station at Moorside to the national power network. 

    Pylons

    Copeland Council says it has "significant reservations" about the scheme from National Grid, which runs the power lines underground through the Lake District national park, but on pylons down the west coast, and across the Duddon estuary.

    The council, which was responding to a consultation on the plans, says they do not consider the impact on health, or the landscape, and that the higher cost of burying the cables is not a good enough reason to avoid doing it.

  12. Mountain rescue teams get cash help for water rescues

    Five Cumbrian mountain rescue teams have been given government grants to help equip them for water rescues.

    The teams are increasingly training for what are called fast water rescues, either for helping people in rivers or when they're called to flooding emergencies.

    Mountain rescuers in Carlisle floods

    Kendal and Keswick mountain rescue teams are getting the biggest awards, of just over £16,000 each. Patterdale's receiving £11,500, Kirkby Stephen will get £5,500, and Duddon and Furness £1,200.  

  13. Cumbria's weather: Sunny but very cold

    BBC Weather

    There's a very cold afternoon to come, though some sunny spells are likely, especially to the north of the Lake District mountains.  Temperatures will reach about 2C (36F).

    Weather graphic

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

  14. County's economic group says shake-up 'is last thing we need'

    The organisation charged with bringing new jobs and businesses to Cumbria says now is not the time for a major shake-up.

    The Local Economic Partnership, which brings together employers and local authorities, was responding to criticism after it asked the government for £165m in grants, but was given under £13m.

    The vice chairman, Jackie Arnold, says although the LEP is asking for an independent assessment of its work, she does not want to see any major changes at the moment.

    She said: "From my perspective the last thing I feel we need now is a major distraction."

  15. Police step up child protection training after critical report

    Cumbria Police were told to make immediate improvements to the way they deal with children at risk of sexual exploitation and other dangers, in a report from government inspectors.

    A report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary listed a catalogue of poor practice by the force.

    Det Ch Insp Andy Slattery (pictured) says 600 staff have been given more training in how to spot and deal with the signs of child sexual exploitation, and more is planned.

    "During the first months of this year we're training as many staff again in domestic abuse and how to protect children in domestic abuse situations", he said.

    "We are investing heavily in training our frontline staff so they have got a better understanding of how to protect children."

    DCI Andy Slattery

    The report also highlighted times when officers didn't check what other agencies were doing, and Mr Slattery said the force had "increased our resources that work within the multi-agency safeguarding hub."

  16. Travel: Roadworks slow traffic on A590 and A66

    BBC Travel

    Two long-running sets of roadworks are causing congestion again today. Traffic on the A590 through Ulverston is very slow, and there's heavy traffic in both directions on the A66 between Brough and Sandford.

    The latest travel news is here.