The tourism industry is Cumbria's biggest income generator, bringing in millions of pounds a year.

Yet some firms claim they will have to hire foreign workers to plug recruitment gaps.

It is estimated that if vacancies were filled by locals, Cumbria's jobless rate would be cut by a sixth.

Latest unemployment figures show that 5,874 people are out of work in Cumbria.

But there are 935 vacancies within the county's hospitality industry, of which 346 are part-time.

Employment Service figures reveal unfilled jobs include 319 chefs, 291 waiters and bar workers, 201 kitchen porters and 47 reception staff.

We have to recruit people from outside the area to help us through the situation, especially at peak season time Chris Ruston, Oasis Whinfell Forest Park

Bill Smith, the chief executive of the Lakes Hospitality Association says foreign workers have a "very good attitude" when it comes to working in the service sector.

He said: "The situation in Cumbria is not yet a crisis, but it is a challenge.

"The rural geography of Cumbria means we have not got pools of population available to many of the hotels.

"Foreign workers are used to working in our hospitality industry and enjoy it.

"The attitudes to working in the service industries are very different on the Continent. They have a greater appreciation of the work that needs to be done than people in the UK.

Specialist skills

"Wage rates are towards the lower end of the scale, but there are many establishments paying good wages."

Chris Ruston, the general manager of the Oasis Whinfell Forest Park near Penrith said he had 100 vacancies to fill out of a staff of 1,300.

He said: "We have to recruit people from outside the area to help us through the situation, especially at peak season time.

"Certainly for youngsters, they have a lot more options now with what they want to do with their lives."