Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited Whitehaven yesterday to find out about Copeland's hot topics.

Photos of Mr Corbyn's visit have been posted on social media.

Sue Hayman, MP for Workington, was asked to chair a meeting for Labour party members at St James Church Community Centre yesterday.

She said: "There was a number of tables with members sitting round. Mr Corbyn talked to people about different local issues."

Mrs Hayman said Mr Corbyn's visit was part of a country-wide tour of Labour party groups.

None of Labour's selected candidates for the upcoming Copeland by-election were at the meeting, said Mrs Hayman, who added that, as neighbouring MP, it was "not appropriate" for her to talk about the Copeland Labour party.

Party member Ben Sloan, from Frizington, was invited to the event and said Mr Corbyn was "very open".

"Basically Mr Corbyn wanted to gauge local members' views," he said. "He gave a bit of a speech and an inspirational talk and went table to table talking to people.

"From my individual experience he was very open, he's got his own stances but he's very democratic."

Mr Sloan said the three local candidates to replace Jamie Reed were not discussed during the meeting.

Mr Corbyn announced on Friday that he would be personally joining the fight in West Cumbria as the party face a tough battle from the Conservatives and UKIP.

During an interview with the BBC, he said: "I'll be all over Cumbria during the campaign."

He was quizzed on his views on nuclear power - a key issue in Copeland - as the politician has in the past made anti-nuclear comments.

Asked if he was in Government would he give the green light to another nuclear reactor in Copeland, Mr Corbyn replied: "I want to see an energy mix in Britain... let's look up the situation when it comes up."

He later added: I've obviously been very concerned about the nuclear safety, as has everybody else, for a very long time."

As well as nuclear, the NHS is proving to be the other top topic for this by-election.

"I suggest to the Conservatives, they are in Government, the NHS is their responsibility, get on with it," he said.

The political parties are expecting a fiercely-fought by-election. It follows the resignation of Copeland MP Jamie Reed, who is set to step down at the end of this month.

A formal by-election will only be called following Mr Reed's official departure. It is unclear when the by-election will take place.