Published at 19:28, Thursday, 22 January 2009

A CONFERENCE for hill farmers in Cumbria will take place next Thursday at Penrith Rugby Club, from 10am to 3.30pm.WEST Cumbria has the highest rate of MMR vaccination in the county, but the level still falls short of the recommended target.A SCHEME to offer ex-smokers free leisure centre passes could be set up in West Cumbria later this year. NHS Cumbria’s stop smoking service is piloting the ‘quit and get fit’ scheme in Carlisle and Barrow and people must stay off cigarettes for four weeks to get a pass. If successful, it could be rolled out across Cumbria.A TURTLE washed up on west Silloth beach has been identified as a loggerhead, more commonly found off African, Florida or the Mediterranean coasts.PEOPLE donating clothes to charity are being warned about rogue advertisers.A SELLAFIELD worker who tailgated the car of an off-duty policeman has been handed an 18-month driving ban and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Organised by the Carnegie UK Hill Farming in the North of England Project, the conference will cover issues including the new Uplands Entry Level Scheme and opportunities for hill farmers from the new Rural Development Programme.

Geoff Brown, of Carnegie UK Trust, said: "We were overwhelmed by the interest in last year's conference, which demonstrated how much hill farmers value the opportunity to meet people involved in influencing policy and other hill farmers who are committed to the future of hill farming.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity again.”

To book a place, call Dani Hudson at ACT on 01768 869511 or email danihudson@ cumbriaaction.org.uk

By the age of five, 95.5 per cent of children in Allerdale and Copeland have had the first dose of the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella.

But the level drops to 90.6 per cent for the second dose of the vaccine, which is necessary for full protection against the diseases. The recommended uptake is 95 per cent. There have been substantial outbreaks of measles in Lancashire, although none as yet in Cumbria.

A Carlisle couple found the 80cm turtle, thought to have been washed up on Christmas Eve. Last year, more than 20 were seen or stranded around Britain.

Some have received plastic bags with leaflets asking for donations to help people in the developing world but Trading Standards has warned that, in many cases, the advertisers are businesses taking clothes for profit.

Nigel Cowles, 55, of Whicham Terrace, Silecroft, Millom, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court and was found guilty of dangerous driving.

The incident occurred on the A5086 between Egremont and Cockermouth on November 9 2007, when he drove very close to the car of PC Andy Morgan before overtaking him on a blind bend. Cowles then went on to overtake three more cars, at one point crossing a double white line.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk