Cumbria stories you might have missed

Barrow gave the King a right royal welcome, with onlookers keen to share the moment with others

A Royal guest, trains to use a historic route once again, and a sea rescue after a mass stranding of dolphins.

Here are some of the stories from Cumbria you might have missed this week.

King Charles visits Barrow to mark royal status

The King also met four-legged friends on his visit

King Charles III arrived in Barrow-in-Furness to recognise the town's "critical contribution" to industry and national defence.

The port town is home to the BAE Systems' shipyard, where the UK's nuclear-powered submarines are being built.

When the prime minister visited in March, he confirmed the King had agreed to grant the title of The Royal Port of Barrow on the area around the shipyard and docks.

Crowds, including many schoolchildren, cheered as the King arrived in the town on Monday to bestow the honour.

• Find out more about the day here.

Diverted trains to use historic route

The Settle to Carlisle line will be used by Avanti West Coast in January

A historic railway route will be used by a train line for the first time in more than a decade.

Avanti West Coast said its West Coast Main Line (WMCL) services would use the 73-mile (117km) Settle to Carlisle line when it is closed between Preston and Carlisle during the first two weeks of 2026.

The closure is to enable the replacement of Clifton Bridge, which takes the railway over the M6 near Penrith.

The Settle to Carlisle line, which crosses the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines via the Ribblehead viaduct, offers picturesque views from train windows.

• Read more on this story by clicking here.

Wordsworth's birthplace opening hours to be cut

William Wordsworth was born in Cockermouth in 1770 and his house is a National Trust property

The number of days that members of the public can visit the house where William Wordsworth, the celebrated Romantic poet, was born are to be reduced.

The National Trust, which owns Wordsworth House in Cockermouth, said that from next year the site's opening days will be cut from five days a week to three or four.

It said the cuts were part of plans to ensure all of its sites were "financially sustainable".

• For the full details click here.

Two of four stranded dolphins saved in rescue bid

One adult and a calf died next to each other but two others were saved

Marine rescuers have saved two dolphins after a "very rare" mass stranding of a family of four.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) team was called to Beckfoot beach near Silloth on Monday.

One adult and a calf had died next to each other, but the other adult and a juvenile were kept alive by volunteers until the tide came in.

Cumbria co-ordinator for BDMLR Sarah Neil said: "There has been no sign of them since, so we really hope they're ok."

• To read about the rescue click here.

'Penrith Pong' continues to kick up a stink

Omega Proteins has been blamed for unpleasant smells in Penrith, which have persisted for decades

An MP has questioned if odour pollution regulations are "strict enough" amid the latest attempts to tackle foul smells that have blighted a community for decades.

The BBC reported on the so-called Penrith Pong in 2014, at which point the issue - reportedly linked to an Omega Proteins animal rendering factory on the outskirts of the town - had persisted intermittently for about 20 years.

Local Labour MP Markus Campbell-Savours, who held a public meeting about the stench on Thursday, said he wanted to know if "regulators are doing their job".

The Environment Agency said an inspection in June found no breaches in the plant's environmental permit. Omega Proteins has been approached for comment.

• Read more on this story here.