South Cumbria News

Furness General Hospital's sickest patients may have to travel to Lancaster on a permanent basis, it’s been announced.

A Lancaster youth charity is helping to relaunch a vital mental heath support service for young people in South Cumbria.

Tens of thousands of motorcyclists are set for a mammoth ride from London to Barrow to celebrate the life of Hairy Biker Dave Myers.

A number of people from South Cumbria have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours for 2025.

Kirkby Lonsdale has a new landmark which its creator hopes will reflect the heritage of the town and serve as a symbol for civic pride.

The waiting shelter at Silverdale station has been restored, improving the experience for customers travelling along the scenic Cumbrian coast.

Three 10-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of burglary in Kirkby Lonsdale.

New revamped trains and extra services have been added to the West Coast Main Line as a nationwide shake-up of timetables came into effect.

Emergency services say fire crews had to put themselves in unnecessary danger to tackle a fire on a Morecambe Bay cliff edge over the weekend.

A high-profile marketing campaign showcasing Kirkby Lonsdale has been launched.

An art auction as part of the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recover Appeal takes place later this week.

A Lancaster University professor is on track to help railway guru Michael Portillo uncover the delights of Cumbria in the new series of 'Great British Railways Journeys' on BBC TV.

Market Street in Kirkby Lonsdale has reopened to vehicles, after it closed following a major fire in December.

A Beyond Radio presenter has written a good yarn - quite literally! - while helping raise funds for a Lancaster youth charity.

A lorry driver from Morecambe was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs in the South Lakes.

The last motorbike ridden by the late Hairy Biker Dave Myers has raised money for a Lancaster charity.

Two people had to be airlifted to hospital yesterday afternoon following a collision near Kirkby Lonsdale.

The Prime Minister will announce that Barrow will be given a 'Royal' title while on a visit to the town.

Work is set to start next week with the aim of reopening Market Street in Kirkby Lonsdale in time for the Easter holidays. 

The family of a football-loving girl who died after being hit by a car on a sports pitch in Kendal have paid tribute to "a force of nature".

A 10-year-old girl from Kendal has died after being hit by a car on a pitch at a rugby club in the town.

A three-metre-high steel ram sculpture gift is to be placed at entrance of historic market town.

Four months of roadworks to reduce flood risk on the M6 between Lancaster and Kendal are under way.

The Leader of the House of Commons has visited Kirkby Lonsdale as the town continues to get back on its feet after a devastating fire.

The last motorbike ridden by a beloved TV personality will help raise funds for a Lancaster-based charity.

Organisers of a festival in Kirkby Lonsdale are celebrating the town's community spirit as residents continue their recovery from a devastating fire.

A Beyond Radio presenter and her husband have released their latest book exploring yarn production in Cumbria.

A public meeting will be held as Kirkby Lonsdale continues to recover from a devastating fire in which a much-loved local man died.

A man who swam across Windermere in the dark to steal a boat from Bowness Bay has been sentenced.

Heavy snowfall caused disruption in some areas of our region over the weekend - and none at all in others.

A disaster appeal has been launched to help the local community affected by the major fire in Kirkby Lonsdale earlier this month.

24 community heroes have stepped into the spotlight and sat down in front of the camera to share the story behind the nomination that has taken them to the finals of the Love Barrow Community Awards 2025.

A man from Barrow has been jailed for three years and has been placed on the Sex Offenders register, for child sex offences.

Police are urging drivers and service station staff to be vigilant to help prevent thefts from HGVs – as Operation Meridian is underway to deter such crimes.

Hundreds of people will take on a 40-mile walk challenge on one day through the English Lake District in 2025 to try to raise more than £500,000 for charity.

A community leader in Kirkby Lonsdale has praised the "absolutely fantastic" response from the public to a fire that devastated the town.

Birthing services at Helme Chase at Westmorland General Hospital will be reinstated in February.

Tributes have been paid to a man who died in a fire in Kirkby Lonsdale as its close-knit community tries to recover after the tragedy.

People have rallied together to raise thousands of pounds after a man died and residents lost their homes in a fire in Kirkby Lonsdale.

A man has died in a fire in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Homes have been evacuated after a fire at apartments in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Clearance work is taking place on the Marina Village housing development in Barrow ahead of phase two of remediation of the site. 

Police in Cumbria made 23 arrests and seized nearly £500,000 of suspected illegal cash during a week-long intensified focus on the issue of county lines drugs crime.

A man has been jailed for breaching Sexual Harm Prevention Order in Barrow.

Police are responding to concerns felt by women and girls – by sending out specialist patrols to offer reassurance and catch offenders in busy nightlife areas during the festive party season.

Police officers will be scouring the roads of South Cumbria in the lead-up to the Christmas party season and testing and arresting drivers who puts lives at risk behind the wheel.

A man has been jailed for 16 years after admitting nine child sexual offences.

A man from Ulverston was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for robbery offences.

Young people in South Cumbria are stepping up to demand change in how mental health is understood, supported, and prioritised for their generation.

Educating children about the dangers of knives was the priority in South Cumbria during last week’s latest Operation Sceptre.

A man who was stopped by officers as part of local initiative ‘Clear Hold Build’ (known locally as ‘Happy Hopeful Hindpool’) has been jailed for two years and one month for drugs offences.

Australian Dave Warby, son of Water Speed World Record holder, Ken Warby MBE, and a current world water speed challenger in Spirit of Australia II, is to be the pilot of Donald Campbell’s hydroplane Bluebird K7 when it runs on Coniston Water in 2026.

Landscape charity Friends of the Lake District has called for a debate about how to meet the real cost of tourism in the Lake District National Park, with a report published this week looking into the issues.

An evening of atmospheric entertainment, food and drink and shopping is planned to mark the official opening of the temporary Barrow Market.  

On a grey autumnal morning, a lifeline for premature babies is in the making , thanks to a quiet group of Afghan refugees.

Police are investigating a two-vehicle collision on the A591 at Troutbeck Bridge, near Windermere.

Westmorland and Furness Council will introduce 500 meters of road markings on the A684 to support National Highways safety improvements on Junction 37 of the M6.

Residents across South Cumbria gathered on Remembrance Sunday to honour the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces.

A woman from Ambleside has been disqualified from driving for 18 months after magistrates found her guilty of failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision in which a woman died in Kendal.

A man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article after a man was stabbed in Kendal.

Police officers are cutting antisocial behaviour in the county by working hundreds of extra hours on the streets of Cumbria as part of Operation Enhance – including in South Lakes.

Police in the South Lakes are urging people to be on their guard against phone fraudsters.

A family have paid an emotional tribute to a motorcyclist who died following a collision at Burrow, near Kirkby Lonsdale.

A man has been sentenced to three years in prison after he stole high value car parts from vehicles parked at Kendal Calling music festival in 2023.

One of the best-known figures in Cumbria’s tourism industry has received his MBE.

A huge fire has broken out at the BAE Systems nuclear submarine site in Barrow-in-Furness.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a single vehicle road traffic collision on the M6 in the South Lakes.

A man from Barrow has been jailed for blackmail after he targeted a pet owner appealing for information on a missing dog on social media.

A development of 25 affordable homes is set to be built after agreement that a plot of Westmorland and Furness Council-owned land can be sold to a housing association.

During October half-term,  Westmorland and Furness Council’s leisure centres will offer 10p swims for children.

A motorcyclist was seriously injured following a collision in Barrow.

A legendary bar and music venue will reopen in Kendal this weekend.

A motorcyclist has died after a road crash near Kirkby Lonsdale.

A kitesurfer has been rescued after being caught in Storm Ashley off the Furness coast.

The journey towards creating a new, inclusive community space linking people to nature on Walney has taken a significant step forward.

An operation to tackle anti-social and dangerous use of off-road bikes has begun in the Barrow and Furness area.

Five people including two children have died after a crash on the M6.

Pupils at Sandgate School in Kendal have started their new Autumn term with a much improved learning environment, following works to reconfigure parts of their building.

A business based at Oxenholme Train Station is being highlighted in a competition celebrating the importance of rail and its role in supporting communities.

A routine annual inspection highlighted an issue with some concrete on the ramp between level 1 and 2 of Westmorland Shopping Centre car park in Kendal.

Westmorland and Furness Council is looking to carry out improvement works within Kendal Town Hall as part of its commitment to creating a better experience for customers.

Donald Campbell’s record-breaking hydroplane, Bluebird K7 has been reunited with the World Water Speed Trophy for the first time since Donald Campbell CBE’s tragic death on Coniston Water in 1967.

Following the success of its first three sessions, Wave Forward's youth hub The Helm is set to host a special Halloween-themed event for young people aged 13-25.

Visitors to a South Lakeland village church are assured of a warmer welcome thanks to a four-figure grant from a renewable energy firm.

Kendal College has had to close a campus after a fire at its animal centre.

The ever-popular monthly market events have returned to Barrow Market.

A Barrow couple have been sentenced after three dogs were rescued from a house filled with hazardous rubbish.

A man from Barrow has been jailed for a burglary he committed at his ex-partner’s property.

A safety review is being carried out at an accident hot spot at junction 37 of the M6.

A former football coach has been jailed for 13 years for sexual assaults against a child in the 1970s and 80s.

Thousands are expected to line the streets for the Kendal Torchlight Gathering this weekend.

A registered sex offender who breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order has been jailed today for two years.

Donald Campbell’s record-breaking hydroplane, Bluebird K7 is to be reunited with the World Water Speed Trophy for the first time since Donald Campbell CBE’s tragic death on Coniston Water in 1967.

Operation Regulate, a dedicated policing operation focussing on issues within the night-time economy, relaunched in Ulverston and Windermere last weekend.

The final members of a county lines drugs operation who supplied heroin and cocaine to Barrow from Manchester have been jailed.

A man in his 90s has died following a house fire in Kendal.

The driver of a car involved in a collision at junction 37 of the M6 earlier this week has died.

The public is being reminded that council services will be moving to South Lakeland House  and Kendal Town Hall later this month.

Work has started on a multi-million pound investment to improve the A595 at Grizebeck.

Westmorland and Furness Council’s Barrow Astro Turf Pitches (ATP) are ready to welcome back sports club and block bookings.

Supermarket giant Aldi says it is targeting Kendal for a new store.

A section of the A65 will be fully closed to traffic overnight for four weeks of essential works to repair significant roadside damage.

Police in Cumbria are stepping up activities to prevent spiking this week to tie in with the return of students to university – and to keep nights out as safe as possible for all.

The branches of Lloyds TSB and Halifax banks in Kendal are to close in February 2025.

Plans have been backed which could see millions of pounds being invested to protect a library service and breathe new life into a key community building.

Hawkshead Brewery has announced they’ve closed down their site at Staveley with immediate effect, moving production to Flookburgh.

An Arnside based electric bike hire business has harnessed solar energy to charge their bike batteries, making them fully powered by the sun.

Car park users will soon benefit from a higher standard of illumination as work begins on a new energy efficient LED lighting system at the multi storey car park at Westmorland Shopping Centre in Kendal.

The future of an historic South Cumbrian village church building is looking more secure thanks to a four-figure grant from a renewable energy firm.

Two friends from Kendal have won almost £10,000 on popular BBC quiz show, The Hit List.

The nomination window for the Love Barrow Awards 2025 is set to close in the coming days.

Members of the public are being urged to have their say on how a flagship 25-hectare residential site in the heart of Barrow is developed.

A number of shows scheduled to take place at The Forum theatre in Barrow have already been successfully switched to alternative locations.

The family of a man who died following a collision in Barrow have paid tribute to him, saying they will miss him forever.

Officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision near Grayrigg are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

An 18-year-old from Barrow has been sentenced to more than three years in prison following an investigation into drug supply in the town.

A 40-year-old wooden boat has been given a new lease of life to draw attention to issues around sustainability in the art world.

Officers from Barrow Neighbourhood Policing Team are encouraging residents to get in touch with information relating to off-road bikes being ridden on Walney.

A public consultation has been launched to help shape new council wards for Westmorland and Furness Council.

Works are set to start on a new 1.4 mile route for cycling, walking and wheeling on North Walney, Barrow.

Ongoing work to tackle drug dealing and criminality in an area of Barrow saw multiple arrests made during targeted operations last week.

A legendary bar and music venue will reopen in Kendal having expanded to include a cafe and restaurant.

Exciting plans have been unveiled to improve public usage and customer experience at Barrow Town Hall.

A man has died following a collision between a car and van in Barrow last night.

The South Lakes MP has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, asking her to support proposals for a passing loop on the Lakes Line between Oxenholme and Windermere.

A man has died after a car hit a tree on a road near Sedbergh.

The appointment of a specialist paediatric nurse will improve outcomes for children across Morecambe Bay.

A man has been jailed after admitting 20 sex offences, some involving children. 

A tourist attraction described as 'one of the loveliest views in England' is set to reopen after three years.

Dog lovers are being invited to the first ever CancerCare Woof & Wag event in Kendal.

A daredevil great-grandad, 94, from Kendal has flown through the air on a zip wire at a height of 500m and speeds of 100mph to raise money for a Lancaster hospice.

An escaped cow has been rescued after running onto the M6 motorway.

A man from Kirkby Lonsdale has been fined after committing an offence under the Protection of Badgers Act.

Evolving plans for an exciting new community space focused on bringing people and the outdoors together have been shared with the community.

Officers investigating a fatal collision at the A684 junction with the M6 on Sunday afternoon are continuing to appeal for witnesses.

A man from Barrow has been jailed after admitting burglary and fraud offences.

An urgent safety message has been issued by Electricity North West aimed at farmers across the North Lancashire and Morecambe Bay area.

A man has been charged with multiple offences following a report of a robbery in Ulverston yesterday.

Final preparations are being made as Barrow Market traders get set to move into a fantastic new home while work starts on the the multi-million pound rejuvenation of the Market Hall.

The theatre at Barrow’s Forum has been closed following the discovery of asbestos.

The Brilliant Barrow Summer of Fun is taking place once again throughout the school summer holidays to provide a range of free, family-friendly activities in the town centre.

Visiting on Ward 6 of Furness General Hospital continues to be suspended due to a Norovirus outbreak.

Two people have appeared court after they were charged by officers investigating a series of burglaries in Barrow.

Three people have been charged with drug supply offences following an investigation into drug supply in Barrow.

A South Lakeland ladies community choir is looking to grow its membership after securing a four-figure grant from a renewable energy firm to help it cover its costs.

The operator of the Royalty cinema in Bowness-on-Windermere has announced they are relinquishing their tenancy.

The Trust that runs hospitals in North Lancashire and South Cumbria says it's taking additional steps to maintain safe services and cope with growing demands.

Celebrity chef, Phil Vickery, is the special guest at an event celebrating the 40th of a South Cumbrian nursery.

Thousands of pounds of damage has been caused to Walney golf course by an off-road bike.

Two bridges over the A591 that were closed due safety concerns could be demolished.

A teenager from Ulverston has been handed an interim anti-social behaviour injunction after being involved in crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour in the town.

A man from Barrow has been jailed for attempting to sexually communicate with who he believed to be two 13-year-old children, online.

Councillors have backed a £1.7 million plan to restore and improve 30 bus routes and services across Westmorland and Furness.

Police are investigating a burglary where bespoke items of jewellery were stolen from a property on Windrush Crescent, Barrow.

A £2.9 million project to build a 40-place Alternative Provision in Barrow passed a major milestone recently as pre-built modular sections of the school structure started to arrive.

Specially trained tobacco dogs have accompanied Westmorland and Furness Trading Standards and Cumbria Police to retail premises across the Furness area, in a bid to tackle the supply and demand of illegal tobacco products.

A mature student from Windermere is over the moon to be awarded a doctorate in astrophysics after spending the last 14 years working towards it.

Eight defendants have been jailed for their role in a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Barrow and Manchester.

A man has been jailed after £50,000 of heroin was found after a car was stopped on the M6 near Carnforth.

Homegrown Cumbrian talent will be among a vast array of artists performing at this year’s Lake District Summer Music Festival.

People are being asked to share their views on the preferred option for Ulverston’s library services and The Coro.

Landscape conservation charity Friends of the Lake District is launching a litter campaign to encourage people to care for the landscape when visiting this summer.

A man who was stopped by officers in South Cumbria has been jailed for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner secured an additional £1m of extra funding from the Government’s Hotspot Response Fund to target anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence in hotspot areas across the county.

A new Compost Demonstration Site which aims to encourage home composting is opening in Kendal this weekend.

Cumbria Police have rolled out a multi-agency partnership tactic called Clear, Hold Build which has been formulated by the Home Office to tackle serious and organised crime and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by this.

Domestic violence and violence among young people are being tackled by two recently appointed specialists to work with hospitals across Morecambe Bay.

Three beautiful gardens in Cartmel village will be open to the public later this month as part of the National Garden Scheme charity initiative.

Police are appealing appeal for information after two men were arrested in connection with high value shoplifting offences.

A man has been arrested by police as part of an investigation into a high-value boat theft in the South Lakes.

A Dalton man has been jailed for attempting to engage with who he believed to be a 14-year-old child in sexual communication.

Tim Farron has been re-elected in Westmorland & Lonsdale for the Liberal Democrats.

Labour has gained the constituency of Barrow and Furness from the Conservatives.

The winners of the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2024 were announced at a special award ceremony at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal this week.

A rare military radio, the type used by Donald Campbell CBE on his record-breaking hydroplane Bluebird K7 has gone on display at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston.

Westmorland and Furness Council in collaboration with the Diocese of Carlisle, have begun building works on a new extension to expand facilities at St Patrick’s C of E Primary School in Endmoor.

The Armed Forces Day flag is flying at Barrow, Kendal and Penrith, as part of Armed Forces Week 2024.

Barrow Market traders are set to move into new temporary accommodation while work is carried out on the Market Hall.

An officer based in Barrow has been chosen as Cumbria’s Response Police Officer of the Year 2024.

A dog had to be rescued after it could not walk any further while out in the Lake District.

Police are investigating a single vehicle collision that occurred on the A592 near Glenridding.

A national survey shows that more than 97 per cent of graduates from the University of Cumbria are employed or studying 15 months after graduating, and 86.1 per cent are in professional employment.

​Hospitals in North Lancashire and South Cumbria are preparing for more industrial action with junior doctors set to strike this week for the first time since February.

Artisans based at The Factory in Kendal will be opening up their studios and businesses this weekend to coincide with the launch of the Felltarn Kendal Town Trail 2024.

South Lakes police have warned of an increase in local rural crime.

A man from Barrow has been jailed for two years and six months for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and indecent image offences.

The Dock Museum in Barrow is set to close to allow for refurbishment works.

Police are investigating a one vehicle road traffic collision in South Cumbria.

A number of people from South Cumbria have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Officers have conducted a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at a property in Kendal.

Kendal Town FC will play in a predominantly North East based league next season after an appeal against their move failed.

Kendal Pride returns this weekend with a bigger festival programme for 2024.

Trading Standards Officers from Westmorland and Furness Council supported by Cumbria Police seized over £500,000 worth of goods from the market fields at this year’s Appleby Horse Fair.

Barrow Market traders marked the end of an era as they said a fond a fond farewell to two sisters who dedicated 50 years to their business and the community.

The full lists of candidates for the Westmorland and Londsale and Barrow and Furness constituencies in the general election have been officially announced.

Brigsteer and Underbarrow bridges, which run over the A591 near Kendal, will close this week, as a precautionary measure due to structural concerns.

A man from Barrow has been jailed after carrying out a knife attack in a street in the town in 2022.

Tens of thousands of motorcyclists completed a mammoth ride from London to Barrow to celebrate the life of Hairy Biker Dave Myers.