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Cumbria stories you might have missed this week

News imageBBC Bethan Lishman standing on an pinky-brown athletics track with grass central area. She is wearing a white tracksuit and is holding a union flag in her arms. The flag has a red, white and blue lion in the middle.BBC
Bethan Lishman says the government is letting down deaf athletes by failing to offer them the same support as Olympians

The discovery of a section of Hadrian's Wall, hopes for a gravestone for the UK's first black policeman and a Deaflympics athlete who feels "let down" by a lack of funding.

Here are five stories you might have missed this week.

Inn bans 'arrogant' camper van visitors

News imagePhilip Halling/Geograph Exterior of the Wasdale Head Inn. It is painted cream and is surrounded by hills. The building is shaped like two large houses. There is a sign showing the pub's name outside. Its gate is closed and it is surrounded by a wall made of stones.Philip Halling/Geograph
The Wasdale Head Inn has had repeated issues in recent summers, its owner says

A hotel and pub in the Lake District has banned camper vans from its car park with bosses saying a "ridiculous" number of incidents saw staff threatened, waste tanks emptied into a river and a barbecue lit just yards from a gas tank.

The Wasdale Head Inn, near the village of Gosforth, has previously allowed visitors to park motorhomes on-site for a charge of £8 per person, per day.

However, owner Dr Nigel Burton told the BBC a "small, arrogant minority" had forced the business to take action.

'I was in denial when I was told I had ADHD at 52'

News imageEllie Smith-Barratt Ellie looking off to the right of the camera. She has shoulder-length blonde hair with the front pushed off her face. She is wearing a white top and gold necklace and is sitting in a field which lots of different coloured flowers which are out of focus.Ellie Smith-Barratt
Ellie Smith-Barratt was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 52

A woman who was diagnosed with ADHD at 52 years old said she was in "complete denial" after having traits pointed out to her at a work meeting.

Ellie Smith-Barratt, from Penrith, in Cumbria, had no idea she had the condition until last year and said it left her feeling like she did not know large parts of herself.

Gravestone hopes for UK's first black policeman

News imageCumbria Police A painting of police officers wearing black uniforms and standing in a courtyard.Cumbria Police
John Kent was a symbol of belonging and possibility, the National Black Police Association said

School children hope to "shine a light" on their region's diverse past by commissioning a gravestone for Britain's first black policeman, John Kent.

Students at Grayrigg Church of England primary school in Cumbria are taking on a walking challenge to raise funds to mark the unmarked grave at Carlisle Crematorium.

Mr Kent was born in Cumbria in 1805 and began his duties as a police officer in Maryport in 1835 before joining Carlisle Police in 1837.

Short story prize winner 'almost gave up writing'

News imageRuth Bushi Ruth Bushi is looking straight into the camera while taking a selfie. She has long black hair and is wearing a grey jumper.Ruth Bushi
Bridport Prize winner Ruth Bushi urged discouraged writers to persevere

The winner of an international creative writing prize has encouraged other storytellers to keep going after "endless rejection" had left her close to giving up.

Ruth Bushi, 49, who lives in Carlisle, won this year's Bridport Prize in the short story category for her entry The Honeymoon, ahead of thousands of submissions from around the world.

Ms Bushi has been writing stories her whole life but said "there comes a point where you start to wonder if you're wasting your time, or that you're too old".

Deaflympics athletes 'let down' by lack of funding

News imageBethan Lishman. She is wearing her Team GB kit and is holding up three medals, with red white and blue ribbons. She has brown hair, tied back but blowing in the wind, and is smiling. The sky behind her is blue with wispy clouds.
Athlete Bethan Lishman said a lack of government support held deaf athletes back

A multi-medal winning hammer thrower says the government is letting down deaf athletes by failing to offer them the same support as Olympians and Paralympians.

Bethan Lishman, from Brigham, near Cockermouth, Cumbria, has represented her country four times at the Deaflympics, a series of events for deaf athletes who compete at an international level, and has twice captained Team GB.

Despite winning medals over 18 years, she said she had no government or lottery funding and had to take on thousands of pounds of debt to fund her career.

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