By Dave Gudgeon

Last updated 14:25, Monday, 25 February 2008

THE campaign to save Border Television’s flagship news magazine Lookaround took to the skies yesterday.

On the campaign trail: Border TV delegates, Eric Martlew and Andrew Tinkler prepare to board the plane to the Isle of Man yesterday

A delegation, led by Carlisle MP Eric Martlew, flew to the Isle of Man to meet its Chief Minister Tony Brown and other leading officials.

And members of the group, which included programme presenters Adam Powell, Fiona Armstrong and Gilly Fraser, were delighted with the outcome of their flying visit.

Mr Powell, head of the journalists’ union at the station, said: “People queued in Douglas to join our postcard campaign. We counted mote than 700 signatures. That was really important to us because these are the people we are making the programme for.

“The people at Tynwald [the Manx parliament] also wanted to maintain the status quo. It really was a very worthwhile trip.

“We are grateful to Andrew Tinkler, the owner of Carlisle Airport, who made his private jet available to take us over to the Isle of Man. He has really got the bit between his teeth on this issue.”

Mr Martlew said the people of the Isle of Man were adamant that they did not want to receive their news from the north east.

He said: “I think they realise that they would never get a mention if that happened.”

ITV are proposing to merge the Border news operation with that of Tyne-Tees TV which is based in Newcastle.

Mr Tinkler believes saving Lookaround is vital to the economic and cultural future of Cumbria.