Farmers met Copeland's MP to discuss a host of issues including Brexit and fell management.

MP Trudy Harrison visited Farthwaite Farm near Haile to meet Copeland’s upland farmers and members of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association to discuss rural issues surrounding Brexit negotiations.

The group included farmers from Ennerdale, Kinniside, Wasdale, Eskdale and Ulpha.

She met the group ahead of her meeting with Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Will Rawling, chairman of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association and chair of the Farmer Network, said: "The discussion centred around the current and future management of the Lake District fell. Everything from the production of extensively reared high quality food to marketing and environmental management was given a good airing.

"The farmers put forward some ideas for the sustainable management of these special areas and habitats in a post Brexit world. Trudy was very supportive of the views being put forward and agreed to pass on the suggestions to the Minister for Environment.”

Mrs Harrison said: "Food and farming is a bedrock of our overall economy and environment, generating £110 billion and helping to shape some of our finest habitats and landscapes, especially here in the Lake District.

"In Cumbria and Copeland, 20 per cent of all businesses are farms, while the farming and food manufacturing industries contribute five per cent of our area’s economic output, compared with two per cent in the UK as a whole. It is why, as the Government goes through the Brexit negotiation process and the development of a new domestic agricultural policy, support for British farming is more important than ever.

She said: "I will be relaying all the issues expressed during my meeting with Copeland’s upland farmers to the Secretary of State to ensure we keep the interests of our local hill farmers and northern farmers involved."

The Government has pledged to match the £3 billion farmers currently receive in support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) until 2022.

Ministers have argued that leaving the EU presents the UK with an opportunity to change the way in which farmers are supported.

Mrs Harrison also attended the ‘Future of Farming’ discussion forum organised by the Three Breed Societies for Herdwicks, Swaledale and Rough Fells. Farmers had the chance to talk to organisations including The Environment Agency, Lake District National Park Authority and the NFU.

The event ran alongside the Societies' Winter Sale with shows of sheep and featured stands and short films about Cumbrian farming.