Television star Professor Brian Cox says Cumbria has a world-leading industry which warrants talent – but there's a shortage of scientists and engineers.

But he hopes to change that by helping to bring the prestigious Infinity Festival to the area and inspiring hundreds of teenagers to follow their dreams.

Professor Cox was the star speaker at today's festival which was held at West Lakes Academy in Egremont.

More than 200 schoolchildren, aged 13 and 14, attended the event from schools across the whole of the county.

The event follows on from the success of the festival which is held in East London and is the first of its kind in Cumbria.

And Professor Cox said he was highly impressed with the opportunities available in the area, and hopes that the day will help students who want to follow a career in science and engineering achieve their dreams.

He said: "You have got an area here that warrants great talent.

"There is a world-leading, extremely hi-tech industry, but there's a shortage of engineers and scientists.

"Although the local community are involved, they could be involved a lot more - such as having the very, very top jobs." Professor Cox said it was important to inspire the future scientists and engineers while they were young, so if they chose to follow that path, they could get help and realise it was not out of their reach.

"You have got a brilliant academy, brilliant industry and the universities and the idea is that they work together to make everybody's life better - it isn't such a radical idea," he added. "One of the key areas is to have them links.

"My experience here has been fantastic, exciting and inspirational. The test will be when we come back next year if it's grown and if more schools are involved."

The festival aims to inspire teenagers across the county to pursue careers in STEM - science, technology, engineering and maths - subjects.

The BBC broadcaster and professor of particle physics studied physics at the University of Manchester.

Formerly a keyboard player with D:Ream, who had a 1993 number one hit with Things Can Only Get Better, he made a successful transition to broadcasting.

Professor Cox became a household name after Wonders Of The Solar System aired on BBC Two in 2010.