A temporary car park in Whitehaven looks set to stay for five more years.

Copeland Council has asked its own planning panel to amend a condition in the planning permission for council-owned land at The Ginns in the town.

Council planners have recommended the amendment be approved when it is considered at a virtual meeting of its planning panel on Wednesday afternoon.

The site has been used by the council's employees, as well as members of the public, since 2015, when it was converted into an 80-space pay-and-display car park after dozens of people were already said to be using it to park for free.

A report prepared by council planners said: "Overall this is considered to be an appropriate form of development.

"However, given the status of the land as part of an allocated Employment Opportunity Site which is listed as a priority site for regeneration in the Local Plan, it is considered appropriate to limit the length of any planning permission to a further temporary five-year period."

When the car park became pay-and-display, Copeland Council mayor Mike Starkie said it was hoped it would alleviate parking problems which had been reported at the site.