Labour Parliamentary candidate for Copeland Gillian Troughton has called on Prime Minister Theresa May to visit West Cumbria to meet those affected by proposed cuts to the local health service.

Gillian Troughton, who will contest the February 23 by-election to replace Jamie Reed, says in her letter to Mrs May that the "local consensus is clearly against the downgrading of services".

Mrs Troughton's letter comes as the local community awaits the results of a public consultation by the government-appointed Success Regime, in which the downgrading of the West Cumberland Hospital's maternity, A&E and children's ward are proposed.

"Local GPs and doctors have stated that the changes are dangerous and life-threatening," said Mrs Troughton, a county and borough councillor. "I ask that you visit to meet with healthcare professionals and members of the public who do not want to see their NHS services cut.

"Will you please pledge to stop the Success Regime's plans to cut NHS services in Cumbria and commit to providing the funding the hospital needs."

Mrs Troughton will stand against Rebecca Hanson (Lib Dems), Fiona Mills (Ukip) and Conservative and Green Party candidates yet to be selected in the race to replace Sellafield-bound Mr Reed, who formally tended his resignation from Parliament on Friday.