JOBS could be created in Maryport and up to 100 businesses boosted thanks to a nearly £1 million tourism plan for the town.

The bid, for £913,296, has been submitted to the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund, which supports projects helping to regenerate coastal towns.

If successful work could begin by April next year, according to town centre manager Toni Magean.

The move has been welcomed by Councillor Angela Kendall, a Maryport town councillor and representative for the Netherhall ward on Allerdale Council.

She said: "It looks fantastic, I hope they pull it off. I would like to thank Allerdale, for all the work they are doing in Maryport.

"I think it would have a wonderful impact. Maryport is a wonderful place now compared to when I moved here 40 years ago.

"You just have to look at the harbour and the developments that have been created and all the new estates."

The new Maryport/Solway bid would include glamping and retail pods on Maryport harbour and bike hire across the west coast.

More festivals would be introduced including cycle rallies, seafood festivals to support the local fishing fleet and an art festival encouraging the public to follow the Percy Kelly trail.

There is also a proposal for an augmented reality experience at Camp Farm, bringing together computer-generated imagery and real-world settings. It would allow people to look over Camp Farm and see what it would have been like as a Roman camp and civilian settlement.

It is estimated the project would provide up to 18 new jobs, secure another 32 existing positions and positively impact on around 50 businesses along the Solway coast and especially in Maryport, Allonby and Flimby. It would also indirectly benefit another 50 firms in other coastal community areas from Silloth to Ravenglass.

The commercial pods, already identified in Allerdale’s regeneration plan, would maximise the harbour’s potential, provide reasons to visit the harbour and offer low-cost, low-risk opportunities for entrepreneurs to test ideas.

Central to the bid is the improvement to the coastal path including upgrading, rerouting and improving signage across the length of the path.

It is envisaged that three cycle pit stops would be created with family activities and supporting access to local communities.

The bid is being led by Maryport Harbour and Marina Ltd, through Allerdale council.

It is being supported by Britain's Energy Coast and Maryport Coastal Community Team, which includes businesses, community groups and individuals mainly from Maryport, Flimby, Crosby and Allonby.

The project comes hot on the heels of Allerdale Council announcing a separate £2.3m regeneration plan for the town.