Two Lancaster University graduates are to interview 18 to 30-year-olds who went to school in the area and are still there or have moved away.

They will ask what they think of it as a place to live and what should be done to attract and keep young adults there.

The project is sponsored by West Cumbria Strategic Partnership with Westlakes Research Institute.

The researchers want to hear from people who went to school in Maryport, Cleator Moor, Whitehaven and Workington who either still live in the area or moved away to study or work.

They also hope to speak to people who have moved into the area.

West Cumbria Partnership co-ordinator Michael Heaslip said: "We have a commitment from government to higher education in West Cumbria and to new highly-skilled jobs in nuclear decommissioning and environmental technologies and that is vital - but will it be enough to attract young people, locals or from elsewhere to stay?

"At the moment, West Cumbria is haemorrhaging its youth, the lifeblood of the future.

"Alongside the government commitment, what do we need to do ourselves locally to provide the kind of lifestyle and facilities that will keep people in the area?"