Visitors to one of Cumbria's best known waterfalls will be able to get a better view this summer.

The National Trust is investing £200,000 at Aira Force, near Ullswater, creating a viewing platform and repairing footpaths.

Image source, National Trust

Aira Force has been popular since Victorian times and is one of the area's most visited natural attractions,

Laura Ruxton from the National Trust said: "Around 300,000 visitors now come to the site each year and that does have a huge impact on the footpaths."

Image source, National Trust

It is hoped work will be completed by July.

• Temperature at 3,000ft: Around 3C to 4C (37F to 39F) in the morning, before increasing in the afternoon to around 5C to 6C (41F to 43F).
• Winds: Gentle south-easterly winds with gusts up to 15mph.
• Cloud: Patchy mist or fog in the morning, with a few patches of cloud around. Cloud bases around 500ft to 1,000ft (150m to 300m). Cloudless skies later.
• Weather: A few patches of mist and fog around, mainly in the morning, which will begin to lift allowing a dry day with plenty of sunshine.
• Visibility: Poor visibility in places in the morning due to patchy fog and low cloud but gradually improving as fog and mist lifts.
• Freezing level: Above the peaks.

Image source, Fell Top Assessors

Wes from the Fell Top Assessors team took this picture of a broken spectre over Helvellyn. The halo effect is caused by sun shining behind the observer and casting their shadow over a layer of cloud.

Bringing you the latest news, travel and weather from across Cumbria from Monday 1 March to Friday 5 March 2021

A second 24-hour strike is under way involving more than 150 staff at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary.

Porters, cleaners and catering staff are taking action over payments for working unsocial hours.

NHS workers receive enhanced rates for working at unsociable times such as weekends or through the night, but Unison says non-medical staff at the hospital have not been getting the payments for 10 years.

Mitie, which took over the contract for those workers in November, last week said talks were "continuing" in an effort to resolve the dispute.

A first day of strike action (pictured) was held on Friday.

Image source, Unison North West

Foreign ambassadors say Boris Johnson's tacit support for the mine prompts accusations of hypocrisy.

Made from logs, the dams in Whinlatter Forest are set to reduce peak river levels downstream.

Oldham produce a scintillating comeback as they end their three-game winless run with a fine victory at Carlisle.

Shaun Miller scores a stoppage-time winner to give in-form Bolton a dramatic victory over relegation-threatened Barrow.

As part of LGBT+ History Month, Lexie shares her story about life as a trans person in rural Cumbria.

Paul Devaney admits three counts of rape and is sentenced to 18 and a half years in jail.

Unison says 150 porters, cleaners and catering staff have not been paid for working unsocial hours.

The Keswick Reminder was edited by five members of the same family until last year.

Blue bows were put up around Carlisle as Stanley Dalton's cortege passed through the city.

• Temperature at 3,000ft: Around 1C to 2C (34F to 36F).
• Winds: Westerly with gusts up to 25mph to 30mph.
• Cloud: Patchy cloud through the day, with cloud bases around 1,000ft to 2,000ft (300m to 600m).
• Weather: A dry day for the fells, with patchy cloud allowing intermittent bright spells. Cloud will become increasingly broken through the day.
• Visibility: Generally good; very good during periods of sunshine, but poor above the cloud bases in any patches of cloud.
• Freezing level: Above the peaks.

Image source, Fell Top Assessors

Wes from the Fell Top Assessors took this picture of the old cornice line extending from Lower Man towards Swirral edge.

The world gurning championships have been cancelled for a second successive year because of coronavirus.

The competition is part of Egremont Crab Fair, believed to be one of the oldest fairs in the world dating back to 1267.

The annual event, which is held in September, has only been cancelled by world wars and the Covid pandemic.

Assistant secretary Dan Nixon said the health of participants and spectators is paramount: "Organising an event of this scale where we can expect 5,000 to 7,000 people is a mammoth task and we need to ensure we've got the procedures in place to make sure we can organise a safe event.

"We wouldn't be comfortable with being able to offer a safe event for families to attend and we just don't feel it is the right time to organise such a large event."

Organisers are now planning a "bigger and better" Crab Fair for next year.

Image source, Egremont Crab Fair

• Temperature at 3000ft: Around 0C to 1C (32F to 34F).
• Winds: Westerly winds with gusts up to 35mph to 40mph.
• Cloud: Patchy cloud this morning, with cloud bases around 650ft to 1,300ft (200m to 400m). Cloud will become increasingly broken through the day, with cloud bases rising to around 1,600ft to 2,600ft (500m to 800m) later.
• Weather: A dull start to the day, with patchy cloud and the occasional shower. Skies will begin to clear later, allowing sunny spells to develop.
• Visibility: Poor in any morning showers and above the cloud bases, rising to very good in the afternoon during periods of sunshine.

Image source, Fell Top Assessors

James Vaughan hits the winner as Tranmere twice come from behind to beat Carlisle in a five-goal thriller at Brunton Park.

Barrow boss Rob Kelly starts his second stint as the Bluebirds' caretaker boss this season with victory at Oldham.

The move to delay elections for a year is due to possible changes in how local government is run.

Volunteers are needed for a survey of rare toads across Cumbria whose habitats have diminished by 75% in the past 100 years.

Natterjack toad numbers have declined because more plants are growing on the sand dunes where they live, making it difficult for them to breed.

Dynamic Dunescapes, which is restoring dunes across England and Wales, is behind the project which will see 23 sites in Cumbria - from Walney to the Solway Firth - monitored over the spring and summer.

Eve Mulholland, from Cumbria Wildlife Trust's South Walney Nature Reserve said: "This will help understand how the population is doing.

"We’re looking for people to assess the pools they live and breed in.

"We’re also looking for volunteers to assess the habitat around the breeding areas – is the vegetation suitable or perhaps has it become overgrown?”

Image source, Cumbria Wildlife Trust