Efforts are underway to recruit the NHS staff of the future at a careers fair with a difference later this week.

Health, care and emergency services have teamed up with the county’s education providers to hold the event.

Students in years 10 to 13 from across Cumbria are invited to the event, at the University of Cumbria on Thursday.

The healthcare and blue light event sees NHS organisations working alongside emergency services and the army.

It gives students who may be thinking of a future career in these areas a chance to meet professionals and education leads for advice and hands on experience.

The event will see professionals from health, care, emergency services and the army reservists available to talk to students about a wide range of roles.

There will also be an opportunity to try out equipment and practical tasks.

Organisers say it is an exciting opportunity for those with a clear idea about their chosen career to talk to professionals about their next steps, and for those who don’t know what they want to do next to find out more about the options available.

Victoria McDade, resourcing and training lead at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, explained: “We want to make sure that students know just how many opportunities are available in Cumbria.

"There are so many careers that people don’t even know exist and we want to change that. By having so many different employers under one roof we have something to appeal to everyone.”

By teaming up with education providers students will be able to find out more about how to get into their chosen career.

Dr Louise Nelson, head of department for nursing and midwifery at the University of Cumbria, added: “We’re really excited to be hosting this event.

"It’s great to have the professionals working alongside education leads so students can find out about different careers and get advice on education routes there and then.”

This event follows two successful healthcare and blue light events in 2016. The careers fair runs from 1pm until 5pm on Thursday.

It is being held at the University of Cumbria's Fusehill Campus, in Carlisle.

Schools will attend in the afternoon, but it is also open for students to drop in from 3.30pm.

Similar events will take place at Lakes College, Lillyhall on Tuesday, October 19 and the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal on Friday, November 3.