Cumbrian farms are taking part in a scheme which could help stop the decline of hill farming in the county.

The pilot project Fell Farming Futures experiment will last for a year and cost �150,000.

The new scheme is intended to encourage a new generation of farmers to look after and develop the hill farming areas.

Hill farmers in in the county were hit hard by foot-and-mouth disease and more recently have been plagued by sheep rustlers.

Practical work

In the new scheme, teams of trainees and experienced farm workers will be managed by local farmers on 40 premises.

It will involve six farming support teams based within the Lake District National Park.

There will also be one around the Orton-Tebay-Howgill fells and one on the Pennines between Stainmore and Mallerstang.

Those taking part will carry out practical farm work and maintenance and help to promote local products.

The one-year trial is being supported by the Lake District National Park Authority and Defra as well as local farmers.