£3.2m to save 'incredibly important' barns

Twenty barns will receive funding

Traditional barns in the Lake District will be rescued with the help of £3.2m funding.

The cash will be used to repair the historic buildings, with works including re-roofing, masonry work and specialist timber repairs.

The Lake District National Park Authority said some of the buildings had failing trusses, while others had suffered the effects of inappropriate repairs in the past.

A total of 20 barns, described by the authority as "incredibly important", will be restored and renovated.

The funding includes £2.6m from the government.

Rose Lord, the authority’s Built Environment Adviser, said: "Many barns continue to be essential to the business of farming and all provide great homes for nature."

She said the funding would help farmers repair and maintain the buildings "in a way that supports the area’s economy and supply chains", with materials being sourced locally.