Families of adults and children with life-threatening illnesses in Cumbria are to benefit from nearly �800,000 of National Lottery funding.

The money forms two grants to improve palliative care services in the county.

Eden Valley Primary Care Trust has received �400,000 to improve respite care for children.

And �388,000 will go to the Morecambe Bay Primary Care trust to improve palliative care at home for adults.

Trained carer

Senior clinical curse Angela Walsh, from Eden Valley Primary Care Trust, said it was "excellent" news for Cumbria.

She said: "There are limited options for families who've got a child with a life-threatening disease to have a break.

"What we are hoping with this service is that families will be able to have carer who can come into their home and spend time with their children while they go out.

"The carer would be trained to meet the needs of their particular child.

"In order to provide the care we are going to need extra people so there will be a number of new posts created with this money.

"We have funding for a full-time nurse and four full-time carers but that might translate into more part-time posts.

"We are always looking to improve the services we can offer."

"It is excellent news for the children across North Cumbria."