The government must use the funds saved by shelving the Lakes Line electrification plans to invest in a passing loop to increase capacity, local MP Tim Farron has insisted today.

The government last week announced that it would shelve plans to electrify the Lakes Line. This project, costing £16million, was due to take place by 2017, but had been repeatedly delayed.

A parliamentary report published today has warned that British farmers could become "uncompetitive" if the government allows cheap imports from countries with lower farming standards.

The report states that "the greatest threat to farm animal welfare standards post-Brexit would come from UK farmers competing against cheap, imported food from countries that produce to lower standards than the UK."

South Lakes MP Tim Farron met last week with young people taking part in the National Citizen Service scheme, to discuss his role as an MP and how the young people could make a difference in their own communities.

Tim met with the young people to take part in a discussion session about his work as an MP, as well as our democratic system more widely. The students also talked with Tim about their own communities, and how they could be involved and make a difference.

A new study by the Met Office warning of an increased risk of flash flooding shows that plans for flood defences in the South Lakes need to be fast-tracked, according to local MP Tim Farron.

The new study by the Met Office, taking into account the effects of climate change, warns that there is an increased risk of "unprecedented" winter downpours which can lead to severe flooding.

South Lakeland MP Tim Farron met Settlebeck School students in parliament last week.

The students from Sedbergh quizzed Tim on a wide range of topics during a Q&A session, before going on a full tour of parliament.

Tim said: "It was great to meet the students, and I hope they enjoyed their trip to parliament. With questions ranging from policy issues through to the work of an MP, I was impressed by the students' interest and enthusiasm. I hope their trip will have helped to show the link between what happens in parliament and what happens in their own community in Sedbergh. The students were a credit to themselves and to their school."