An historic Cumbrian castle that has become a major visitor attraction is to close for two months to allow for the next significant phase in its restoration.

Lowther Castle & Gardens, near Penrith, will shut on January 9 for work to take place.

Projects in place include a new exhibition telling the story of its history, illustrated with items from the Lowther family collection.

A redesign of the castle courtyard, created by gardeners Dan Pearson and Martin Ogle, is also planned.

This will include a new area where people can relax on new seating, surrounded by indoor trees.

A refurbishment of the shop and the cafe is also planned to make them "more attractive and customer friendly".

Other improvements include more signs and lighting.

The Lost Castle play area - thought to be the UK's largest wooden playground, which opened earlier this year - will be extended to include a party space for families.

Simon Bonser, general manager, has written to annual pass holders to inform them of the temporary closure.

He said: "Earlier in the year, the Lowther Estate pledged to invest £1m to help secure the castle's future and create a world class tourism destination.

"The works due to be carried out in this closed period are set to propel that vision forward by creating much improved facilities and outstanding visitor experience.

"We are extremely excited by the changes that we have planned and confident that customers will love the improvements."

People who have annual passes will have the missing two months added to the end of their expiry date.

Mr Bonser said: "Those customers who have an annual pass or membership, that is valid through this shutdown period, will have their passes extended accordingly and will effectively start to be valid again from March 12 for any time lost due to the closure."

Lowther Castle sits at the heart of a 75,000 acre agricultural estate, within a 3,000 acre medieval deer park originally laid out by the Lowther family in the 16th and 17th centuries.

This was subsequently remodelled in the 18th and early 19th centuries for the first and second Earls of Lonsdale.

The Lowther family is maintaining and restoring this listed parkland, while still farming the estate.

This castle stands on a site occupied by the Lowther family for more than 800 years.

It will reopen again on March 12.