Cumbria County, England News

Plastic bank notes are to be issued by the Bank of England for the first time when the new A 5 featuring Sir Winston Churchill appears in 2016.

Notes made from plastic - starting with a new A 5 note featuring Churchill - are being introduced partly to tackle counterfeiters.

PEOPLE in the South-West who want to get out and about and enjoy the great outdoors this winter are invited to join in the Ramblers' Festival of Winter Walks.

A controversial plan to outline where more than 5,200 new homes could be built in South Lakeland was formally adopted last night.

Councillors at a full meeting of South Lakeland District Council in Kendal voted 32 for and 13 against to formally adopt the Local Plan.

A search was begun and appeals issued for him or anyone who knew where he was to get in touch.

Two teenagers who broke into a man's house and hit him over the head with a shovel have been given prison sentences at Carlisle Crown Court.

An MP is calling on the government to get to the bottom of a row over who should run a pharmacy at a new A 11m hospital.

Falling trees caused traffic tailbacks, damaged a car and closed a popular tourist attraction as Cumbria was battered by stormy weather.

Joshua Norman and Rachael Todner, assistant head boy and girl at Queen Elizabeth School, received certificates at a Cumbria County Council's South Lakeland Local Committee.

HOUSEHOLDS looking to become even greener in the New Year will be able to get heavily discounted home food waste digesters, thanks to a new initiative by Cumbria County Council.

From left, secretary Lyn Durschmidt, chair Santa Tattersall, trustee Peter Smith and Checkpoint's Wendy Vaughan at the new gallery A NEW gallery showcasing the life and work of a critically-acclaimed Brazilian sculptor with Cumbrian connections has opened in Kendal.

Croftlands Infant School winners enjoying a day at the Lakeside Hotel are, left to right, Daniel Jackson, Harry Struckman, Eve Armstrong and Rebecca Duckworth Ten lucky children from Croftlands Infant School were chosen through a drawing competition to decorate the Christmas trees at The Lakeside Hotel near Newby Bridge.

Police and the Coastguard have been searching the shoreline in west Cumbria in a bid to find a missing teenager.

New figures from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service show that between April and October 2013 there were 61 cooking-related incidents countywide.

Cirrus Energy, based in Berkshire, has made initial enquiries with Lancaster City Council about building the turbine at Sunny Bank Farm in Kirkby Lonsdale Road, Arkholme.

Strong winds are being reported on the M6 between Junction 38 and Junction 40. The matrix sign has been set to 50mph to slow traffic speeds.

Sgt Peter Garforth, based at Workington's police station, told the News & Star: "He went for a walk in the early hours of this morning and has not been heard from since.

A CONTROVERSIAL planning document, which could see hundreds of homes built on green spaces in South Lakeland, will be debated at a meeting this week.

TWO teenagers are in hospital today recovering from head and chest injuries after a collision last night on the A65.