1. Across the day: BBC Cumbria Livepublished at 16:00 BST 24 April 2020

    Martin Lewes
    Reporter

    We've now finished posting for today and indeed the week.

    We'll be back from 08:00 on Monday.

    If you've got any news you think we should know, or photos that you would like to share in the meantime, let us know by sending us an email, or on Twitter, external.

  2. Lake cruises firm gives snack supplies to hospital staffpublished at 15:59 BST 24 April 2020

    Snacks and drinks that were potentially going to waste have been given to hospital intensive care staff by the firm that runs the Windermere steamers

    van loaded with drinks next to steamer SwanImage source, Windermere Lake Cruises

    The company's vessels would normally carry hundreds of thousands of people around England's longest lake, but they are unable to operate within government guidelines for the pandemic, so the supplies bought in for the early season would otherwise have gone to waste.

    Windermere Lake Cruises operations director John Woodburn's daughter, Jennifer, is part of the team on the Royal Lancaster Infirmary unit which treats many people from south Cumbria.

    He said: "We’re pleased to be able to do our bit for the medical staff are risking their lives to keep the rest of us safe, and we sincerely thank them for everything they are continuing to do to save lives.”

    Quote Message

    The drinks are a much-needed treat on our short breaks after hours in hot PPE and all the staff are very grateful for this extremely generous donation."

    Jennifer Woodburn

  3. Covid-19: Building society cuts costs for businessespublished at 15:57 BST 24 April 2020

    The Cumberland Building Society says it is waiving some fees for its business customers and deferring other charges because of the coronavirus outbreak.

    It says firms can delay, by three months, paying the regular fees and transaction charges they incurred from January to March.

    Cumberland Building Society HQImage source, Google

    And the society says monthly fees from April to June will be waived, although there'll still be charges for transactions.

    The Cumberland says it's already agreed payment holidays for more than 900 holders of commercial mortgages across the country, worth more than £250m.

  4. Cumbria's weather: Dry with long clear spellspublished at 15:57 BST 24 April 2020

    BBC Weather

    A fine evening will lead into another dry night with long clear spells.

    The odd patch of mist may form later on with just a light wind and lowest temperatures will be from 1C to 4C (34F to 39F).

    weather graphic

    You can always find the latest BBC weather forecast for where you are, here.

  5. Three more die in Cumbrian trustspublished at 15:38 BST 24 April 2020

    Three more patients confirmed as infected with coronavirus have died at hospitals run by trusts covering Cumbria, taking the total to 253.

    Of that total, 111 have been in hospitals in Carlisle and Whitehaven and 136 in the hospitals in Barrow and Lancaster run by the Morecambe Bay trust.

    Six deaths were at facilities managed by the trust covering mental health for north Cumbria.

    In all, 1,584 people have been confirmed by tests as being infected, external, but because tests are only administered in more serious cases, and the daily figures published by the government, external only include deaths in hospitals, these statistics are only a part of the toll.

  6. Covid-19 testing centre prepares to open at Penrithpublished at 15:29 BST 24 April 2020

    Cumbria's centre to test health and care workers for coronavirus infection should go into operation next week.

    Test centre stock pictureImage source, MOD/PA

    The centre, at Penrith Rugby Club, will operate on an appointment-only basis, and will spend a few days working on a "pilot" basis to test systems before opening properly.

    There have been a number of complaints from health and care staff in North Cumbria who have had to go at least to Newcastle or Lancaster for testing, with some told to travel far further,

  7. City council holds first 'virtual' planning meetingpublished at 15:00 BST 24 April 2020

    Bob Cooper
    Political reporter, BBC Cumbria

    Carlisle councillors decided a number of planning applications this morning without being in the same room.

    Instead they linked up by digital connections, to comply with the Covid-19 social distancing restrictions.

    Councillor Raymond TinnionImage source, Carlisle City Council

    The meeting of the development control committee under chairman councillor Raymond Tinnion dealt with a routine agenda, such as plan for a housing estate to a later date, and whether to allow a static caravan to remain in a new position.

    You can watch a recording of it here, external.

  8. Evatt: I will stay whatever the season's outcomepublished at 14:26 BST 24 April 2020

    BBC Cumbria Sport

    Barrow manager Ian Evatt says he's planning on staying with the Bluebirds regardless of the outcome of the cancelled season.

    The club is still waiting to find out whether its leadership of the National League when all sport ended last month will be rewarded with promotion into the league the club fell out of in 1972.

    Evatt has already begun the process of identifying possible transfer targets for next season's campaign, still uncertain as to whether the club will be a Football league side next season or not.

    ian EvattImage source, Ian Allington
  9. Submarine builders make NHS curtain hookspublished at 13:50 BST 24 April 2020

    BAE says staff "responded rapidly" to the call to make face shields and curtain hooks for the NHS.

    Read More
  10. Business group surveys firms to plan Covid-19 recoverypublished at 13:28 BST 24 April 2020

    Every business in Cumbria has been invited to take part in a survey about the economic impact of coronavirus.

    It's being carried out by the business group in the Local Resilence Forum, which is coordinating Cumbria's response to the emergency, and the information will be used to shape plans for helping the economy to recover from the effects of the lockdown.

    The survey is online and you can find it here, external.

  11. Cumbria's weather: Sunny and warmer now the wind's droppedpublished at 13:03 BST 24 April 2020

    BBC Weather

    It will be a dry and fine afternoon with plenty of sunshine.

    It should become warm again with just a light wind of variable direction and highest temperatures from 17C to 20C (63F to 68F).

    Weather graphic

    You can always find the latest, hour-by-hour, BBC weather forecast, for where you are, by searching for your location here.

  12. Your coronavirus information round-uppublished at 12:40 BST 24 April 2020

    BBC Radio Cumbria

    The Barrow BID group, representing local businesses, has given £1,000 to the local food hub which has been set up to help vulnerable people during the pandemic.

    The hub will use the grant to buy food from town centre businesses so that they are supporting local firms in the process.

    If you are an older person and looking for emotional support out of office hours, you can ring Silverline on 0800 470 80 90.

    It's free and confidential and it's staffed every day, 24 hours a day.

    If you are being advised not to leave the house at the moment, and have no other support,you can contact one of the local groups set up to help with shopping and delivering medicines, including

    • Braithwaite Volunteers, covering Braithwaite, Thornthwaite and Newlands Valley on 017687 53119
    • The Alston group on 01434 647247
    • St Mary's Hospice and Age UK, which are offering support to all vulnerable people in Barrow and Dalton, on 01229 444407
    • And Millom and district on 07801 957541

    BBC Radio Cumbria has lists of some other numbers and you can contact them in most office hours on 0800 111 4950

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    Well done to John in Allonby who's been painting pebbles with an image of the wonderful Captain Tom and giving them away for a donation to the local support group, and to the local postie Fiona who is dressing up as a bumble bee on her rounds and raising money for NHS charities.

    If you have internet access you can go to the BBC website or app for the national latest news, advice and information.

  13. Virus is second blow to businesses hit by winter floodspublished at 11:54 BST 24 April 2020

    For businesses in parts of Cumbria that were flooded earlier this year, Covid-19 has come as a second and heavier blow.

    Skip full of flood damaged goods in Appleby

    Patrick Leach is from Capsticks Carpets in Appleby which was flooded earlier in the year, and is now dealing with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

    He says the flooding was disruptive, but the coronavirus pandemic is on a different scale.

    Quote Message

    It's completely floored the business, we can't do any work at all because we would have to be going into people's houses."

    Patrick Leach

  14. North Cumbria welcomes newly-qualified junior doctorspublished at 11:04 BST 24 April 2020

    The trust that runs hospitals in North and West Cumbria has been able to bring in some junior doctors months early to help on the wards.

    The newly-qualified doctors were start their Foundation Training Programme in August but at this time of national crisis they have been able to volunteer onto the programme early.

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    Quote Message

    The new recruits will be working in a variety of clinical wards caring for both Covid-19 and non Covid-19 patients and will be based at the Cumberland Infirmary. They will be shadowing existing junior doctors, sharing the workload and undertaking relevant clinical tasks.”

    Liz Klein, Lead Medical Clinical Educator

    Final year nursing students have also been making an early start on their working careers, with 53 providing reinforcements on the wards at the hospitals in Whitehaven and Carlisle.

  15. MP: Covid business grants 'going to second home owners'published at 10:28 BST 24 April 2020

    Bob Cooper
    Political reporter, BBC Cumbria

    Senior politicians in Cumbria say they're concerned that millions of pounds intended to help small businesses through the coronavirus crisis are going to second home owners instead.

    The Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron is among those who say there are second home owners who avoid council tax by registering as a holiday-let business.

    This means they pay business rates, external, from which small properties are exempt, and critically, that they can also claim the special £10,000 government grants being given to tourism enterprises because of the pandemic.

    Martin Sach is the chief executive of the Holiday Home Association. He says he would not endorse anyone making a false claim, but most people deserve - and need - the money..

    lake District signpostImage source, Getty Images
    Quote Message

    These are people's livelihoods, these are small business owners, very small, often, that one property may be their only source of income."

    Martin Sach

    Quote Message

    There are thousands of people eligible to take advantage of this, that's millions of pounds of public money, it could instead be going to people who run small B&Bs, or business from their home, who are currently getting no support at all."

    Tim Farron

  16. Well, hello clouds, haven't seen much of you recently...published at 09:57 BST 24 April 2020

    Martin Lewes
    Reporter

    We've had weeks of clear blue skies in Cumbria, and that's a rare phenomenon, but Judith Morris took full advantage of the clouds over Coniston Water last night.

    Coniston clouds reflected in lakeImage source, Judith Morris

    If you've got photos that you you think the rest of the county might enjoy, let us know by sending us an email, or on Twitter, external.

  17. Photographer starts fund for Covid 'war memorial'published at 09:18 BST 24 April 2020

    A top photographer from Ambleside has launched an appeal, external for £1m to build a national memorial for medical staff and carers who fall victim to Covid-19.

    Ashley Cooper in AntarcticaImage source, Ashley Cooper

    Ashley Cooper, who has travelled the world photographing the results of climate change, says there should be a permanent memorial to those who "die in the line of duty", in the same way as there is after a war.

    Quote Message

    We are still in the middle of this awful crisis and sadly many more will die yet. I do not want them to be forgotten."

    Ashley Cooper

    Quote Message

    They could have stayed at home, but they chose instead to put themselves willingly on the front line to care for and protect our loved ones.”

  18. Your coronavirus information round-uppublished at 08:25 BST 24 April 2020

    BBC Radio Cumbria

    Cumbria Archive Service is asking for help in recording the impact of the pandemic for future generations.

    They say people can help them by doing some or all of:

    • Write about your experience of the pandemic in prose or poetry
    • Take a photograph which shows how the pandemic has affected the community (please note when taking photographs that you need to get the consent of any person in the image)
    • Produce an audio or video recording about your experiences
    • Collect leaflets/flyers/or posters from official or community organisations

    You can email digital content to the Barrow offices, external, post written and printed material to your local Archive Centre, or hand them over personally when the centres have re-opened.

    A number of supermarkets have now signed up to the national voucher scheme for children on free school meals.

    Schools can continue to provide meals and food parcels for collection or delivery themselves, but where this is not possible, the scheme allows schools to provide vouchers to families electronically, or as a gift card in the post for those without internet access.

    If you are being advised not to leave the house at the moment, and you have no other sources of support, you can contact one of the local groups been set up to help with shopping and delivering medicines, including:

    • Grange Peninsular Neighbourly Network on 07780 973997
    • The Ulverston group on 01229 357951, covering the LA12 postcode area and the Crake Valley only
    • The West Cumbria support group on 0333 33 55 226, which will put you in touch with your nearest local group in the west of the county
    • The Carlisle support group on 07394 546 877 from 10:00 to 16:00.

    The Alzheimer’s Society in Cumbria says its staff are still available if you have any queries.

    You can leave a message on 01228 819229 and they'll call you back or find plenty of information at the charity's website, external.

    You can go to the BBC website or app for the latest news, advice and information

  19. Weather: Dry, warm and sunnypublished at 08:05 BST 24 April 2020

    BBC Weather

    Any early patches of fog will rapidly disperse to leave another dry day with plenty of sunshine. Feeling warm again with just a light wind,

    You can get the latest forecast for your area here

    Weather graphic
  20. Welcome to BBC Cumbria Livepublished at 08:00 BST 24 April 2020

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage.

    We'll be bringing you news, sport, weather and travel from around the county through the day.

    If you've got any news you think we should know, or photos that you would like to share in the meantime, let us know by sending us an email, or on Twitter, external.