Action must be taken to stop traffic grinding to a halt every time Cockermouth hosts town centre festivals and events - agreed town councillors at a meeting this week.

Councillor Alan Smith said: "We have had our first event of the year (the Malcolm Wilson scrutineering event) and our first chaos in town.

"I always get so much grief from people about the road problems. There's nothing wrong with the festivals, it's the lack of traffic management beforehand.

"What winds people us is not the events but the town centre chaos. It puts a dampener on festivals.

"Once those bollards go out, signs go up and schools get out it's gridlock."

He said cars were regularly backed up on to Lorton Road when events were being held in town.

A county council spokesman said traffic management was the responsibility of the event organisers.

"We do provide the event organisers with the diversion route details and suggested signage, but the whole traffic management set up is carried out by the event’s own contractors and managed by themselves," he said.

Councillor Smith said: "People get so wound up, I get it in the neck when it's nothing to do with me.

"These events and festivals are really important to the town. They bring money into shops and hotels."

Councillor David Malloy said: "The people looking after the traffic don't live in town, we need to be more proactive and trial what we are going to do on festival days. It needs to be done as a dry run.

"Once Lidl opens there will be even more cars."