The Queen's representative in Cumbria visited a Copeland school to meet students set to take part in a science festival headed by Brian Cox.

Infinity Festival, which will be held at West Lakes Academy in September, aims to inspire 13 and 14-year-olds from across the county to pursue careers in STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and maths.

Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant for Cumbria, Claire Hensman, attended the academy to see some of the 210 teenagers who are invited to the event.

Professor Cox, BBC broadcaster and professor of particle physics at the University of Manchester, is the headline act at the festival.

"I am so pleased to have been introduced to the Infinity Festival," said Mrs Hensman. "It is a marvellous opportunity to open students' eyes to the enjoyment of STEM subjects and the possibilities for their own careers.

"There are already many exciting jobs in science, engineering and technology in Cumbria and more to come in the future.

"I want to see local people with the skills to fill them. I hope the Festival will inspire the students to say: 'Yes, this is an area I am going to consider studying; it is offering very good prospects for my future.'"

She also met some of the 44 student ambassadors from the school who will have supporting roles at the event.

West Lakes Academy principal Jonathan Johnson said: "We are honoured to receive the Lord Lieutenant.

"The visit of a historical and significant regional representative of the monarchy will bring focus to the work of our school system to raise student aspirations and improve their life chances."

To take part, students had to go through an application process which asked them to say why they wanted to be involved and what they hope to gain from the experience. Each school then selected who would represent them.

There will be motivating talks, hands-on experiments and workshops, as well as information on employment opportunities, training options and career paths.

The festival has been created by The University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute, working closely with the REACT Foundation.