A new headteacher has taken over at Crosscanonby St John's Primary School, near Maryport.

After only a week in the job, Chris Steele said: "I have joined a great team in a warm, vibrant and achieving school."

Mr Steele, 35, said he wanted other people in the community to know it.

Mr Steele is a champion mountain racer who has represented England twice and missed out on being selected for the Great Britain mountain racing team by only four seconds.

He is also a member of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team who were kept busy throughout the recent floods.

Running and rescue both require determination and drive and he is bringing those qualities into the school.

He has been teaching for 10 years and started his career at Cockermouth School.

He added: "I got a little bored teaching only one subject. I could also see that the best chances for promotion was through primary education.

"I switched and became year one teacher at All Souls in Cockermouth which I really enjoyed."

This is his first headship and he is looking forward to the challenges.

Crosscanonby St John's Primary School has 60 pupils and he said he would like to see that number grow.

The school opened a nursery in September but because of state and size of the buildings, has not been able to accommodate two-year-olds, something he would like to see in the future.

Mr Steele lives in Cockermouth.

His wife, Alice is also a teacher and the couple have an 18-month-old son.