Colourful hanging flower baskets have been placed around Whitehaven town centre in a bid to brighten up the town.

Over 50 hanging baskets have been introduced thanks to Whitehaven Town Council.

It has commissioned Copeland Council to place the floral decoration down the main route of King Street and Market Place.

Ray Gill, Whitehaven town councillor, said: "We’re making a small start on what we hope will become a big project, which will be built on year on year.

"Over the next few years we hope to involve local business, shop owners and schools in growing and placing the hanging baskets around our town centre."

The two councils have recently joined forces to clean up the town for summer.

Before the town's first ever Taste Cumbria Summer Festival, held last weekend, an intensive clean-up was carried out in the town centre.

This included cleaning up the main shopping areas of King Street, Duke Street, Tangier Street and Market Place.

The concentrated blitz is in addition to the regular street-cleaning service that Copeland Council provides every day in Whitehaven, and across the borough. Britain’s Energy Coast also supported the clean-up.

Brian O’Kane, mayor of Whitehaven Town Council, said: "The early feedback we’ve had from people has been extremely positive with many comments on the good work that has already taken place.

"As a town council, we’re always striving to bring about improvements to the town centre for the benefit of our residents."

Mike Starkie, mayor of Copeland, said: "Our team does an excellent job every day, in terms of cleaning our streets, picking up litter and emptying bins. Our resources are stretched and we have a large borough to concentrate on, and I commend our staff for their work.

"This intensive blitz will build on that good work and will concentrate on Whitehaven town centre ahead of a busy time for the town.

"We’re happy to be working in partnership with Whitehaven Town Council on this project to make the town look its best for our residents and visitors."