Carlisle city centre road closes for five months

Cumberland Council hopes the changes to Devonshire Street will help draw people back to the city centre

A Carlisle city centre road has closed to traffic for five months as a scheme to add wider pavements, outdoor seating and landscaping gets under way.

Devonshire Street will be made "more vibrant and welcoming", Cumberland Council says, with work also being done on the adjoining English Street.

Temporary bus stops have been put in place nearby and a diversion for cars is in operation.

Pedestrians can still use Devonshire Street and businesses remain open.

The council said just over £2m in funding for the project had come from the government.

It comes as construction work is also being carried out at the nearby railway station aimed at improving parking, pedestrian access and the building's interior.

The Greenmarket and Market Square areas in the city centre are also undergoing changes.

Council chiefs say the transformations are needed to attract people back to the area amid the rise of online shopping.

Several shop units stand empty following the withdrawal of major High Street names and smaller independent businesses.