Jeremy Corbyn visited Copeland in a visit that was hailed as the start of Labour’s “fight back” in the constituency.

However, despite an earlier suggestion that the party leader would be coming to Whitehaven – the seat’s main town – today's visit was restricted to Keswick and Cleator Moor.

Mr Corbyn denied claims he was “snubbing” Whitehaven and pledged to come back.

“I have not snubbed anybody. I am here and I am happy to be here. This is not the only time I’ll be in Cumbria,” he said.

He visited Amy’s Care in Keswick with MP Barbara Keeley, shadow minister for mental health and social care. After meeting its users, he went for lunch at Cafe West, at Keswick Museum and Art Gallery.

He is also due to go to Cleator Moor for a private meeting with Labour members.

Mr Corbyn is targeting 100 seats in England and Scotland, including the most marginal Tory-held seats. It is understood he is hoping to visit 40 of them.

Keswick was added to the Copeland constituency in 2010. What had formerly been the Whitehaven seat had been in Labour hands for 80 years but turned Conservative in February.

Trudy Harrison won the fiercely fought Copeland by-election then and also the General Election in June.

Mr Corbyn is due to meet members of the Copeland Labour Party at Cleator Moor Civic Hall this afternoon to discuss key issues in the area.

Since details of the visit were confirmed, many people have posted on social media, questioning why he wasn’t coming to Whitehaven.

Christine Wharrier, for the Copeland Labour Party, said: “He is going to Cleator Moor as that is where the Labour Party office is.

“I believe he is going to Keswick because it’s a long time since Labour has had a county councillor in Keswick. He is trying to visit people who need it.”

She said the Labour Party leader was looking for “realism” and he would get that in his visit to Copeland.

In the Cumbria County Council elections in May, Labour’s Tony Lywood gained the Keswick seat which had been a Tory stronghold for 20 years.

Coun Wharrier said Mr Corbyn’s visit to Keswick recognised the hard work to get a Labour member elected in that seat.

“Keswick is still tied in very much with the needs of Copeland,” she said, highlighting issues such as hospital services, showing how rural the borough is and other matters including housing.

The party leader’s visit was also welcomed by Gillian Troughton, Labour candidate in the Copeland by-election in February and General Election in June.

Mrs Troughton, who is also secretary of Copeland’s Labour Party, said it would be the focal point to “start the fight back”.

She said: “I’m pleased he’s coming to understand the constituency and meet people living and working here.

“Obviously I’m disappointed he isn’t visiting Whitehaven.”

Mrs Troughton said the visit was a chance for Mr Corbyn to find out key issues and talk about what Labour has to offer.

He is also set to visit Carlisle this evening to host a public rally.