PEOPLE in Workington have been holding conversations with a twist.

The Listening Project, which is run by Radio 4 with the British Library, was in the town on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage people to talk to people who are close to them and participants have been recording conversations in its special booth.

Maryport friends Sue Brice and Margaret Benstead-Cross were among the pairs who took part and talked about their friendship and settling in a new area.

Sue said: "I really wanted to say thank you to Margaret for being a mate and this struck me as a good way of being a nice way to do that."

The duo met in the town after moving from Zambia and the Yorkshire Dales respectively and set up the Rebel Readers book club together.

Margaret added: "It's quite exciting. When she first mentioned it 'I thought what has she got me into' but I've been looking forward to it. We bonded the moment we met."

People who take part in The Listening Project will have their conversations saved in the British Library alongside recordings of notable figures like the Queen and Winston Churchill.

A special broadcast from Keswick's Mountain Rescue Headquarters is scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

Andrew Carter, BBC Cumbria producer, said: "The trip to Cumbria has been fantastic and has exceeded expectations. There were some light and some dark moments.

"The most important thing is for people to have a conversation they want to have."

The Listening Project was started by Radio 4 in 2012 and is based on an American idea which began in the early 2000s.

There are slots available to book a conversation in Keswick and for more information email andrew.carter@bbc.co.uk or call 07714 956726.