A woman from Cumbria has been appointed British High Commissioner to Singapore.

Image source, FCO

Kara Owen, who grew up near Egremont, takes up the senior diplomatic role next month.

Her previous jobs, external have included some of the most senior posts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as well as diplomatic postings around the world.

She says she was inspired by a remark from a teacher at Wyndham School.

A Cumbrian farmer wants Natural England to bring back licences that give farmers standing permission to shoot birds including crows, jackdaws and pigeons.

The government's advisor for the natural environment, Natural England, has revoked general licences, external after environmental campaigners sparked a row by threatening legal action.

Alistair Mackintosh, a farmer in Ravenglass, says shooting is always a last resort, but Cumbrian livestock farmers sometimes need to act, particularly at lambing time.

A Cockermouth teenager who sent indecent pictures and lewd videos on the Internet to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for more than two years.

Mitchell Robinson, 19, was in fact exchanging messages with an undercover police officer, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

Robinson, or Fell View, admitted one charge of attempted sexual communication with a child, and four of attempting to incite a child of under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Judge James Adkin heard of Robinson's immaturity and social isolation, and considered specialist background reports before sending him to prison for 28 months.

The Cumbrian Conservative MP Rory Stewart has been given a new job as a secretary of state, the top level of government post.

Image source, PA

The Penrith and the Border MP has been given the job of International Development Secretary, previously held by Penny Mordaunt, as she replaces Gavin Williamson, who was fired because the Prime Minister blamed him for a security leak.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, Mr Stewart said his work outside parliament meant he agreed with Mrs May's decision to sack the Defence Secretary, and was looking forward to his own new job.

Police have published a description of a man who is believed to have stolen a boat launching trolley from Ferry Nab, on the shores of Windermere.

They say he was white, aged between 60 and 70, with a large build and grey wavy hair, wearing beige trousers and a checked shirt.

The folding Force 4 trolley, which was wrapped in a blue tarpaulin, was taken on Monday at around 13:15.

A career Cumbrian police officer who has led a number of high-profile investigations has been confirmed as the county's new assistant chief constable.

Image source, Cumbria Police

ACC Andrew Slattery, who has occupied the post on a temporary basis for just over a year, went to Keswick School and has been with the Cumbria force since completing his studies at Lancaster University.

He has worked at every rank as a detective, investigating crimes including the West Cumbria shootings in 2010, and the murder of the Carlisle teenager Jordan Watson in 2015.

BT is offering people in Cumbria the chance to come up with imaginative ways of using old telephone boxes, and the advance of mobile phones means some are never used for calls.

In recent years, some have been turned into miniature museums, libraries or storage for defibrillators.

In 2009, the Loppergarth Community Group near Ulverston turned its local phone box into a tourist information centre.

BBC Weather

Some bright or sunny spells at times this morning but there will be the growing chance of some showers.

Highest temperatures will be from 11C to 14C (52F to 57F).

You can always find the latest BBC weather forecast for where you are, here.

Copeland council has moved a polling station in Millom.

The station at Black Combe Junior School has been transferred to the Millom Palladium Theatre because of an electrical problem at the school.

Voting is taking place in Copeland for district council seats and the position of mayor, and there are also polls in the county's five other districts.

South Walney Junior School is closed for today after a burst pipe caused flooding.

• Temperature at 3,000ft (900m): Around 4C to 6C (39F to 43F)
• Winds: Northerly 15mph to 20mph, with gusts to 30mph
• Cloud: Around 600ft to 1000ft (200m to 300m) for much of the morning, increasing to 1300ft to 1650ft 400m to 500m) through the afternoon
• Visibility: Mainly good at lower levels, but poor in any low cloud
• UV Index: Moderate
• Pollen: Moderate

BBC News Travel

A crash involving a lorry and a van has closed the M74 northbound just over the border into Scotland, between junctions 21 and 20.

It happened as an earlier closure, after another accident, was being lifted.

Martin Lewes
Reporter

Good morning: We'll be posting news, a regular weather forecast and other useful and interesting items from around the county through the day.

If you want to pass on news you think we should know, or share a photo with the county, you can email us, send them using Twitter where we're @BBC_Cumbria, external, or head to our Facebook page, external.

Inexperienced officers are tackling burglaries, car crime and assaults, the policing watchdog says.

We've now stepped back to let the software post breaking major news and travel reports overnight.

We'll be back tomorrow. If you want to pass on news you think we should know, or share a photo with the county, you can email us, send them using Twitter where we're @BBC_Cumbria, external, or head to our Facebook page, external.

Have a very good evening.

Harry John Nicholson is jailed for four years after being caught by the couple and pinned down.

Police say they are investigating seven burglaries from sheds, garages or parked cars in a single night in Kendal.

High value tools, mountain and road bikes were taken in the area between Windermere Road and Hallgarth between 27 and 28 of April.

Police have urged people living in the area to be vigilant and consider taking more security measures.

Mitchell Cass, who has been jailed for six years, was caught in a police sting.

News and Star
Newspaper

A Cumbria police chief has said the force is no soft touch and the county is no easy target for ATM thefts, external.

Image source, News and Star

The Safari Zoo at Dalton has announced its senior male lion, Shikar, has died of natural causes.

Image source, HuddleHub

In a statement the zoo said the 18-year-old had died in his sleep, after being under veterinary observation for some time because of his age.

"A favourite of staff and visitors alike, Shikar has been here since 2002 and it goes without saying that he will be sadly missed by all of us."