Today has mostly been about the distressing case of Poppi Worthington. This morning a judge ruled the 13-month-old girl was sexually assaulted by her father shortly before her sudden death. 

Here are the main points which have arisen today:

• Mr Justice Peter Jackson said his conclusion remained that 13-month-old Poppi suffered a sexual assault by her father, Paul Worthington, before she died.
• He'd heard pathologists draw differing conclusions from the evidence but sided with Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour, who'd tried to get police to treat the case as one of child abuse.
• But the judge, sitting in Liverpool, said it wasn't possible to reconstruct the exact events leading to Poppi's collapse.
• Paul Worthington said he didn't accept the findings of the court. He claims to have told the truth and had not hurt his daughter.
• Cumbria County Council and the county's police force were both strongly criticised in the judge's findings.
• But both the council and the police said they would not be commenting in detail.
• The police are awaiting the results of an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation.
• The Department for Education said it might take over Cumbria County Council's chidlrens' services unless they improved.

It'll be cloudy this evening with patchy frost and only a few showers. Temperatures will fall to -1C (30F).

You can find the latest forecast for where you are here.

And if you're heading for the fells tomorrow, the conditions at 3,000ft (914m) are here., external

Chancellor George Osborne has told one of the county's MPs that he wants to devolve more powers to Cumbria.

Answering a question from the Carlisle Conservative MP John Stevenson, Mr Osborne said he wanted a new governance arrangement in the county, perhaps with an elected mayor.

"This is a decision for of course for Cumbria, but they have come to us with this proposal and we are working hard with the people of Cumbria to see if we can get an arrangement that boosts jobs, boosts investment and makes sure that decisions that affect Cumbria are taken in Cumbria."

Top officials from Highways England have been briefing the Lake District national park's business group on how they intend to repair the A591.

The road links the northern and southern halves of the national parks and tourism operators are pressing for it to be opened top traffic as soon as possible.

Image source, Martin Campbell - Grasmere

Today the Highways England staff and traders met close to the point where the road was washed out near Dunmail Raise.

Afterwards one of the local representatives said it was a positive and useful meeting that gave an insight into what was happening and reinforced the priority that the project occupies., external

One of the men accused of murdering a Carlisle teenage told a friend he was worried about his own safety after the death of Jordan Watson, the jury has been told. 

Lewis Parkin told Carlisle Crown Court that he'd gone out to get something to eat with one of the men accused of murdering 14-year-old Jordan, the night after the schoolboy died. 

Mr Parkin told the jury that George Thomson, who's 19, said he hoped that whoever attacked the 14-year-old wouldn't come after him. 

George Thomson, Brahnn Finley who's also 19, and 20-year-old Daniel Johnston, all from Carlisle, deny murder. The trial continues.

Image source, Rex Features

News and Star
Newspaper

The 2018 World Cup final will be played on grass designed and laid by a west Cumbrian company. , external

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock's criticised police after the judge in the case of Poppi Worthington said officers hadn't mounted a real investigation.

He told BBC News: "Police have said they've closed the case and they're not going to bring anyone to justice. 

"I hope that on looking at the findings by the judge today that the Home Secretary herself will step into this and as a bare minimum will hand over the investigation to an outside force to try to salvage something from the criminal investigation into Poppi's death."

Eden Valley farmer David Raine's been elected the new chairman of Cumbria's branch of the National Farmers' Union

Image source, NFU

David runs 1,000 breeding ewes across 410 acres of pasture and 830 acres of rough grazing on the hills near Hartside.

Martin Lewes
Reporter

The Department for Education's reacted to the Poppi Worthington judgement today by saying it could step in to improve children's services.

Mr Justice Peter Jackson said in 2014 that Cumbria County Council had delayed care proceedings to protect other children in the family on the basis of "wholly inaccurate" information.

This afternoon a DfE spokesman said: "Cumbria County Council’s children’s services were rated inadequate for a third time by Ofsted earlier last year – clearly this is not good enough. 

"We have been crystal clear that we expect Cumbria to take its improvement plans forward as a matter of urgency, and have appointed an adviser to ensure children and families in Cumbria get the help and support they need without delay. 

"If improvement is not imminent, we will not hesitate to take further action.”

Visitors to Kendal mountain film festival spent £2m in a weekend, according to a report just published.

Image source, Kendal Mountain Festival

The event last November featured talks and films by top explorers and climbers, exhibition and workshops.

Surveys by the Kendal-based company Red Research suggested the event attracted 14,000 people.

Two men have been charged after a man was stabbed late on last Friday night in Duke Street in Cleator Moor.

The victim, 34, suffered a punctured lung but has now been released from hospital.

Police are still asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

The snow may not be around much longer, so here's a picture Bruce Hardy sent to our Facebook page, external. It's of Grisedale Pike.

Image source, Bruce Hardy

It's full winter conditions on the fells today.  You can check the latest conditions from the felltop assessors here., external

In-Cumbria Magazine
Newspaper

The chief executive of Carr's Group, Tim Davies, is warning that a vote to leave the EU would harm the company, and Cumbria's farming and agri-business sector in general., external

Martin Lewes
Reporter

Plans to run the Flying Scotsman steam engine along the Settle-Carlisle line so it crosses the famous Ribblehead viaduct have been delayed.  

The trip was due to happen this Saturday but it's been postponed while work is done on the locomotive's brakes.

Three witnesses have told an inquest jury how a series of fireworks went off followed by an explosion in a fatal fire at a Windermere wedding. 

Andrew Coates, 41, and his assistant 46-year-old Polly Connor were preparing for a firework display later that day in August 2014.

The wedding was that of John Simpson, who was Mr Coates' partner in the fireworks business. Mr Simpson said "all hell broke loose in a matter of seconds" after the first pop of a firework unexpectedly going off.  Other guests described a loud explosion and fireworks going close over their head.

Mr Coates and Ms Connor were found dead in the burnt-out store. The inquest continues.

Paul Worthington, accused today by a high court judge of sexually abusing his 13-month-old daughter before she died and then lying about the circumstances, has said he does not accept the findings of the court.

Mr Worthington asked his solicitor, Stephen Ladhams, to issue a statement saying: "He is saddened that after having been given a plausible alternative medical opinion by the well-respected Dr Cary that called into question key findings made in March 2014 and also having three medical experts including Dr Cary, namely Drs Kiho and Aziz, all stating that evidence to support a finding of abuse was lacking, the Court has decided to prefer the evidence of Dr Armour.

"Mr Worthington maintains that he has given a truthful account of the events of 12 December 2012 and that he has not hurt his daughter."

At one point Cumbria County Council applied for reporting restrictions on the case of Poppi Worthington that would have meant details being withheld for 15 years.

But in his judgement today Mr Justice Peter Jackson says there's strong public interest in receiving information about the case., external

He says though that the interests of her mother and siblings require protection.

So with today's judgement the only remaining restrictions are those that might lead to these details being revealed.

The judge says this is because of the exceptionally unusual circumstances. 

No child must ever again be failed by the authorities in the way Poppi Worthington was, a charity says.

The NSPCC has attacked the "inexplicable" blunders by Cumbria police and the council over the toddler's sudden death after she was sexually assaulted by her father.

A charity spokesman said: "We are deeply worried and angered by this shocking case and the details now emerging. 

"A vulnerable baby died after suffering appalling injuries and there were clearly serious and inexplicable failings in the investigation into her death. It's vital we get a full understanding of the circumstances that led to officers not following basic procedures, not securing forensic evidence and delaying their inquiries. 

"There were also huge problems in the way this case was been handled by other agencies, which could have left other children at risk of serious harm. 

"This needs to be fully explored. These agencies are responsible for thousands of children and we absolutely have to be confident they are both competent and capable; anything else is unacceptable. No child must ever be failed again in this way."

The Chief Constable of Cumbria Police will be "held to account" over the death of Poppi Worthington, the crime commissioner says.

Richard Rhodes said: "First of all my thoughts are with the family of Poppi Worthington who has died in such tragic circumstances. 

"It is not appropriate for me to make further comment at this time whilst we are waiting for the outcome of the coroner's Inquest, IPPC investigation and police misconduct hearings. 

"Once these legal and statutory proceedings have concluded I will be holding the Chief Constable to account over this very serious matter. "