Midwives working in West Cumbria have been recognised for their hard work and dedication.

Sandra McGarry, who is based at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, was named Midwife of the Year.

She was nominated by two different people, both of whom said she provides "excellent care" and is a "role model and teacher" for others.

The ante-natal care team at the Whitehaven hospital - Louise Hughes, Anne Crozier, Sarah Hawley, Clare Winthrop and Jo Wear - won the award for enhancing midwifery and service to women and babies.

What stood out to the judging panel was the growth of the team over the past two years as they have developed into a "cohesive and supportive team".

The work of the team provided many innovations into the care of mothers from expanding the diabetic clinic, parent craft education for multiple births and aspirations for a pre-conceptual care clinic.

Ruth Singleton, who works out of Maryport's antenatal clinic, was named primary/community midwife.

She deals with some of the communities most vulnerable patients. Her nomination said that Ruth worked with the women to be good mothers even beyond the postnatal period.

Midwives across North and West Cumbria were honoured at an awards and learning event held to celebrate International Midwives Day.

It was organised by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust which runs West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven and the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

Christina Cuncarr, the trust's associate director of midwifery, presented the awards.

She said: "The amount of nominees we received was high and the judging panel had a very difficult task of selecting the winners.

"All of our midwives at the trust work very hard every single day."