Major plans to upgrade the electricity network have been discussed by Workington Town Council's planning committee.

National Grid wants to connect a potential new power station at Moorside, near Sellafield, into the network.

Chris Bagshaw, town clerk, told councillors that the Workington area would be affected by a new overhead line entering the area from Winscales, with an extra substation in Stainburn.

The line would then go towards Broughton Moor with pylons running at the back of the village of Seaton.

He recommended that members attend a briefing for councillors which is due to be held by Allerdale council's planning consultants next week, before agreeing their view on the plans.

Councillors delegated the drafting of a response to officers, committee chairman Councillor Mike Rollo and Coun Peter McHarry, who had already attended a consultation meeting on the matter.

Mr Bagshaw said: "One of the things that was clear from the initial briefing was that the line goes through the special area of conservation of the Derwent Valley.

"We might have an issue with that and want to consider coming up with a suggestion."

Coun McHarry said: "What they're proposing isn't set in stone, they're happy to receive comments and they seemed open to any positive suggestion.

"This project won't really touch us. You'll see it on the horizon and the other main change would be the extended substation."

The committee will consider a draft response at its next meeting on December 5.

The consultation on the National Grid's plans ends on January 6.