Calls for a parking zone on a "nightmare" Whitehaven road - with long-standing traffic problems - have been rejected by the county council.

Around 20 residents at Meadow View backed a petition to include a 'residents only' parking bay along the road.

But Cumbria County Council highways department dismissed the proposal for "a variety of reasons", including the road being "one of only two main routes from the south into Whitehaven".

Highways officers suggested introducing a section of double yellow lines, in an area which currently has no waiting between 8am and 6pm on any other day than Sunday, in a bid to improve visibility for vehicles instead.

They also recommended adding double yellow lines midway along the road to act as a passing place.

Councillors voted against the passing place but agreed to introduce the double yellow lines at a meeting of Copeland's Local Committee on Tuesday.

Chris Tatters, a resident at Meadow View, presented the petition to councillors. He said residents "reject the option of a passing place" and "need a new road".

Before the vote, Emma Williamson, who represents Kells and Sandwith on the council, said: "It's a controversial issue. I don't believe anything will be of great benefit to the residents.

"I would ask members to join me in lobbying for the road to be widened."

Issues on Meadow View and Low Road stem from the narrow carriageway, which means motorists can use only one lane at a time due to cars parked on the other side of the road.

Coun Chris Whiteside said: "Whatever solution we adopt on this has to be seen as a short term solution. It is an utterly inadequate link between Whitehaven and St Bees.

"Whatever we go for is going to be an unsatisfactory compromise, that passage along there is a nightmare."

A third option to introduce double yellow lines along the whole road was dropped after it received 20 letters of objection during consultation.

Seven objections had been submitted to highways officers' proposal for double yellow lines and a passing place.