Concerns have been raised about unsavoury activities taking place at a family picnic area near Carlisle.

Residents and walkers have complained to a councillor about people meeting for outdoors sex at the leafy beauty spot at Carleton.

City and county councillor Trevor Allison, who represents Cummersdale, Dalston and St Cuthbert, has recently flagged up the issue.

He wrote about the concerns in a letter to residents.

Mr Allison told the News & Star about the concerns.

"It is a problem because it is a picnic area and families go there," he said.

"Parents like to take their children.

"I've had several complaints about it from residents and walkers. It's upset a lot of people.

"It has spoiled the essence of what it is supposed to be.

"The problem is if you stop it there, it just moves elsewhere."

He advised people to report incidents at the time, with a call to the police on 101.

He is also going to ask if overgrowth in the section of the old A6 in that area can be cut back.

A spokeswoman for Cumbria Police said: "We received some reports of anti-social behaviour and officers worked to resolve these issues."

Earlier this year, toilets in a layby off the A69 were permanently closed because of a similar problem.

The toilets, at Hayton layby, were shut by Highways England following complaints about persistent "anti-social behaviour at all times of the day".

A spokesman for Highways England said the decision to close the toilets was taken over the complaints.

The agency added families were using the Hayton layby to stop and picnic.

The loop on the eastbound carriageway near Edmund Castle had for several years been known as a site where strangers meet up for sex.