Double yellow lines will become permanent on a busy estate to clear the way for access to the West Cumberland Hospital.

Temporary lines were painted on the bottom of Rutland Avenue and Homewood Drive in Whitehaven nearly three months ago while major roadworks took place on the road leading to the hospital.

At the time, county council officials said the move was to prevent cars parking on the road to allow a "safe and swift passage" of emergency services from the A595 to the hospital.

At a meeting this week, county councillors agreed to introduce a traffic regulation order of double yellow lines for the road and this will come into force early next year.

A council spokesman said: "This proposal is designed to prevent the obstruction of the highway between its junction with the A595 and the emergency access to the West Cumberland Hospital grounds."

One objection was received against the proposal.

In a council statement, it said: "The grounds for objection are that residents with no off-street parking availability cannot park within the proposed length of restriction and therefore requested a 'residents only' parking zone; or that Cumbria County Council provides an off-street parking area for residents."

When the temporary lines first appeared in July many residents complained as they said they had not been informed of the action and were unable to park outside of their homes.