The Government says it will announce improvements to the A595 "in the next few weeks".

Transport secretary Chris Grayling made the pledge on a campaign visit to Cumbria yesterday, alongside Conservative candidate for Copeland Trudy Harrison.

The state of the A595 has been widely criticised, with MPs and a host of campaign groups calling for an upgrade.

Mr Grayling said: "I'm very well aware of the issues around the road and the need for improvements. I'm actually going to be announcing some improvements to the road in the next few weeks."

On Mrs Harrison's bid to become Copeland's next MP, the minister added: "The most important thing for the people of Copeland in electing a new MP is to have somebody they know will fight for them, but who also will be someone who will be able to work with the team running the country and helping to give this region much more influence than it has had in the past.

"I know Trudy will be a great champion across a whole range of issues and in fact has already starting talking about how she would like to see transport links improved."

Mrs Harrison added: "The A595 has needing improvements for years. It is often backed-up with workers from Sellafield, while other motorists can often find themselves stuck behind farm workers on tractors for miles due to a lack of passing points.

"Hundreds of local people have backed my call for action on the A595 because our communities need better roads. I will make sure that we aren’t forgotten and ignored like we have been by Labour for years."

Also standing in the February 23 by-election to replace Labour's Jamie Reed are Gillian Troughton (Labour), Rebecca Hanson (Liberal Democrats), Fiona Mills (UKIP), Jack Lenox (Greens) and independents Michael Guest and Roy Ivinson.