Good economic news for Westmorland and Lonsdale

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has praised the good economic figures for our area as a 'testament to local businesses'.

Alongside one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, at 0.4%, increased job postings and business starts up really do show the county's economy growing.

In the period Feb-Apr 15, there were 5,545 job postings in Cumbria which is 1,312 more than were placed in the previous quarter (Nov 14-Jan 15).

There were 613 business start-ups in Cumbria in the quarter Jan-Mar 15, 41 more than in the previous quarter (Oct-Dec 14). The highest number of start-ups, 177, were in South Lakeland (29% of all start-ups) followed by Allerdale with 113 (18%) and Carlisle with 110 (17%).

The information has been released by Cumbria Intelligence Observatory as part of their regular Labour Market Briefings.

Tim said: "All these figures added together show that our economy in South Lakeland and the wider Cumbrian economy is growing. Less unemployment, more jobs on offer and more businesses being created is all great news.

"I will keep working to attract investment, create jobs and boost apprenticeships. We are making big strides but we can do more. I want to turn South Lakeland into the entrepreneurial hub of Cumbria."