Fresh hope has been given to campaigners in their call for a bypass to be built in Harrington as the Government announces £490 million road improvement funding.

Harrington Community Action Group is urging the county council to apply for the funding to build a bypass to ease traffic along the A597.

Richard Johnston, action group chairman, said: “We will be pushing our council to apply for this money. We urge them to have a good hard look at the facts and figures and put in a serious bid for this project.

“We know that a bypass would have to be funded by the Government and we welcome the news of this money being made available.

“This would be a step in the right direction of alleviating a more complex issue. Our group looks at different aspects which isn’t just infrastructure, but also environment, school places and local amenities.

“We’re only at the start of what we’re hoping will be a fruitful journey, we needed to stand up and be counted.”

Figures released by Cumbria Highways last month revealed that the number of vehicles using the A597 through Harrington daily has increased from 10,000 in 2015 to over 13,000 this year - a rise of 30 per cent in two years.

The Government funding, which will be for schemes in the North West from 2018 to 2020, is designed to tackle congestion and provide upgrades to local roads to improve journey times.

A spokesman for the county council confirmed the authority will apply for Government funding but it is in the process of identifying which projects would be eligible.

Workington Town Council has joined campaigners in their call for a bypass.

Councillors approved a notice of motion by Councillor Hilary Harrington to support the idea of building a bypass.