Local MP Tim Farron met with the Environment Agency's Flood Risk Manager for Cumbria, Stewart Mounsey, yesterday to encourage him to review plans to chop down over 700 trees as part of its flood defence plans for Kendal.

Tim made the case that while getting the long-overdue flood defences built is the number one priority, the Environment Agency need to keep the character of the town.

Local MP Tim Farron has sent a survey to every headteacher in his constituency asking for their thoughts on what needs to be done to change the funding system for children with special educational needs.

Last month in the House of Commons, Tim urged the Education Secretary to change its policy of making schools pay the first £6,000 of the cost of supporting children with special needs.

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, South Lakes MP Tim Farron urged the Chancellor to give local businesses on the high street a much-needed tax break this Christmas.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Tim said: "51,000 shops in the UK high street closed in the last year.

"Local businesses in even successful places like Kendal and Windermere struggle because they are forced to pay huge taxes whilst mega online retailers get away with paying next to nothing at all.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron visited the Royal Mail Delivery Office at Troutbeck Bridge this morning to see first-hand the operation of delivering Christmas post and to pass on early Season's Greetings to Royal Mail's dedicated, hardworking staff.

Tim was shown around the office by Delivery Office Manager Michelle Rickman and was introduced to the postmen and women, who will be pulling out all the stops to sort and deliver mail in the Lake District in the forthcoming busy Christmas period.

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, local MP Tim Farron secured a meeting with the housing minister to discuss problems connected with excessive second home ownership in South Lakeland.

According to South Lakeland District Council, there are currently 3819 properties in the council tax list classed as second homes.