The site of the demolished Central Plaza hotel in Carlisle, which has twice forced the closure of a main road in the city centre, is no longer a liability according to the city's leader.

Work to pull down the building and clear the site is about three weeks ahead of schedule according to John Mallinson, leader of Carlisle City Council.

He says talks are under way with Cumbria County Council to get the viaduct opened to pedestrians as quickly as possible.

It is hoped the site can eventually be sold to investors to try to recoup the £2m the hotel and its demolition have cost the city's taxpayers.

David Gray, one of the best-selling singers of the 21st Century, will perform his entire White Ladder album at Cartmel Racecourse, external next year.

It's part of a tour to mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of the album, which spent three years in the top 100.

Tracks included Babylon, This year’s Love and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.

Cartmel Racecourse has previously welcomed Sir Cliff Richard, Jools Holland and Sir Tom Jones to its Concert Day, which sees a full day of racing before the concert.

Next year's event is on Friday 26 June.

Image source, Getty Images

A new health and safety course for Cumbria's farmers has been set up.

It comes after the Health and Safety Executive found agriculture, forestry and fishing are the most dangerous industries for workplace accidents and injury.

People working in those sectors are more than 20 times more likely to be killed at work than the rest of the country.

Image source, Getty Images

David Gray, one of the best-selling singers of the 21st century, will perform his entire White Ladder album at Cartmel Racecourse, external next year.

It's part of a tour to mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of the album, which spent three years in the top 100.

Tracks included Babylon, This year’s Love and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.

Cartmel Racecourse has previously welcomed Sir Cliff Richard, Jools Holland and Sir Tom Jones to its Concert Day, which sees a full day of racing before the concert.

Next year's event is on Friday 26 June.

Image source, Getty Images

Temperatures at 3,000ft: 1C (34F)

Winds: Southerly to south-easterly, 35mph to 40mph with gusts to 50mph

Cloud base: Generally 150-650 feet (50m to 200m), where low cloud and fog lingers, otherwise 1,000ft to 1,650ft (300m to 500m)

Freezing level: Just above the summits

Visibility: Poor, occasionally moderate

The assessors who compile the Weatherline report on fell top conditions, external say navigation is extremely challenging, and walking arduous in the deep snow drifts on the highest fells.

Exposed routes such as Swirral and Striding Edge are now in full winter condition and should only be attempted by those with crampons, ice axe and experience in such conditions, they say, and anyone heading for the high fells should be in full winter clothing with goggles.

Plans to rebuild the crumbling Whitehaven Academy have moved a step forward after being approved by Copeland councillors.

Image source, Cumbria Education Trust

The government is funding a new school building (artist's impression above) and sports hall after years of concerns about its deteriorating state.

Planning permission will be ratified by Copeland Council officers, once questions about the size of the sports hall have been addressed.

A former Army corporal who sank his teeth into a man's nose as violence flared inside a Whitehaven taxi has been given a suspended 18-month prison sentence.

Carlisle Crown Court heard a dispute arose on a Duke Street rank late on 29 March over who was entitled to a mini-cab, and Paul Gearing got seated ahead of Simon Burckett, 39.

Both men had been drinking and as a fight developed, a police officer saw Burckett bite Mr Gearing on the nose, causing injuries that needed reconstructive surgery.

Burckett, of Holthouse Road, Tottington, near Bury, who was said by people who knew him well to have acted "entirely out of character", was given the suspended prison term and told he must complete rehabilitation, 240 hours' unpaid work and pay £2,000 compensation.

BBC Weather

Any showers will soon fade this evening to leave a dry and cold night, with light winds.

As the night progresses, fog and low cloud will form in places, with lowest temperatures from -2C to 1C (28F to 34F).

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

Cumbria highways engineers say they had to regrit many of the roads around South Cumbria this morning after an overnight shower of rain washed away the rocksalt they laid late yesterday, and then froze just in time for rush hour.

A council spokesman said: "The entire fleet of gritters was mobilised and sent back out this morning before 07:00 to treat routes all over the county."

Image source, Cumbria County Council

• Cumbria County Council grits on a system of doing roads in priority order, explained here, external.

More than £83,000 has been awarded to the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle.

The money, from Arts Council England, will be spent on a project with geological exhibits called Cumbria's Past, Our Future, which the council said "aims to unlock the potential of the internationally significant and unique collection".

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Ellis Butcher

Modernisation plans for Kendal Town Hall, external have started a debate between South Lakeland council and Kendal Town Council, both of which have offices there.

South Lakeland, which owns the Grade II listed building on Highgate, has tabled plans to bring the buildings up to modern accessibility standards, make better use of empty space and hire out sections to companies to generate income.

But Kendal Town Council, which also meets in the town hall, believes the changes go too far, threatening a "loss of historic and heritage value for little gain".

The historic council chamber (pictured), the Bindloss Room, the Highgate room, the committee room and assembly room will be upgraded with wifi installed and new audio-visual equipment, new lighting, power, heating and cooling, and a fire detection system, alongside works to plaster and redecorations.

There are also plans to change the entrance lobby, external.

Image source, SLDC

News and Star
Newspaper

The death of a remarkable young woman, external, who inspired everyone she met, has prompted an outpouring of grief.

Image source, Family photo

Workers at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow have given almost £3,000 to the town's food bank through a Give As You Earn scheme.

The money has helped provide manual handling equipment, CCTV and personal protection equipment (PPE) as a majority of food bank volunteers are elderly.

Shipyard staff also regularly collect food for the bank.

Image source, BAE Systems

Jim Doherty (left), a foodbank volunteer who works at the yard, applied for the money, and said part of it paid for special watches that mean if any of the older volunteers falls while working alone an emergency message can be sent.

Claire Coulthurst, from Barrow food bank, said: "The CCTV has given us all some peace of mind, as well as securing the food bank building itself."

Bob Cooper
Political reporter, BBC Cumbria

The elected mayor of Copeland has called on the Labour leader of Cumbria County Council to resign, following last week's general election result in which the Conservatives won the two Labour seats in the county.

Image source, Mike Starkie

Independent Mike Starkie has written to councillors, telling Liberal Democrats to abandon their coalition with Labour on the county council and put the Conservatives in charge.

The Labour council leader Stewart Young responded on Twitter, telling the mayor "Happy Christmas to you as well".

Police who raided a Workington flat found William Holm, 36, and his 29-year-old partner Karly Fisher preparing heroin for sale, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

The court heard both sold heroin to pay for their own addictions, and Holm had been jailed twice before.

Holm admitted possessing heroin and amphetamine with intent to supply and was jailed for four and a half years, while Fisher, who admitted allowing premises where they were living in Wilson Street to be used for drug supply and had been in custody since early August, was given a two-year community order.

BBC Weather

Throughout the day, sunny spells are expected, but the odd shower will drift down from the northwest later, with highest temperatures from 4C to 7C (39F to 45F).

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

Neil Smith
South Cumbria journalist, BBC Cumbria

Plans for an £85m investment to upgrade machinery and imrpove productivity in Barrow's Kimberley Clark tissue paper mill are expected to be approved today.

Image source, Google

Kimberly Clark says this investment, one of its largest in Europe, would secure the future of the Barrow site and protect more than 350 jobs at the mill, which makes products from toilet tissue to protective paper for hospital chairs.

Barrow councillors are recommended to the necessary planning permissions today with officers arguing it would bring "significant economic benefit" to Barrow.

A lot of people across Cumbria woke up to a pretty snowfall at the weekend, and being at the weekend, those who were lucky enough not to have to go to work could enjoy the scenery.

Image source, David Coles

This was the view from Seathwaite in the Duddon Valley, as seen by Sarah and David Coles, and kindly emailed on to us.

Our thanks to them, and if you want to share a photo you've taken in the county, let us know by sending an email, or on Twitter, external.

BBC Cumbria Sport

A second round home tie against FC United of Manchester awaits the winners of tonight’s rescheduled FA Trophy tie between Atherton Collieries and Barrow following yesterday’s fixture draw.

Bluebirds manager Ian Evatt is expected to hand a number of fringe players a run-out tonight.

Image source, FA

Lifeboat and rescue crews from Silloth, Workington, St Bees and Maryport met in Whitehaven harbour to practice dealing with emergencies.

They formed teams to swim to a small liferaft and then light a flare, and must also have been quite a sight for people visiting the harbour.

Image source, RNLI

Image source, RNLI