The Borderlands region will receive a funding boost worth £345m, it has been announced today.

Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed in his Spring statement, delivered this afternoon in the House of Commons that HM Treasury would contribute £260m to the Borderlands growth strategy.

This morning, the Scottish government announced an £85m funding package for the Borderlands growth deal, bringing the total confirmed level of public funding for the Cumbria, Northumberland and southern Scottish areas to £345m.

The Borderlands growth strategy will focus on improving infrastructure and transport connectivity across the borders area.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson, appointed by the Prime Minister in 2018 as the 'champion' of the Borderlands growth deal in Westminster, was delighted with the chancellor's announcement today.

"It is another very significant investment into our region", he told The News & Star.

"This is on top of the £100m pledged last month to the Carlisle southern relief road project.

"Carlisle and the region is really starting to move ahead which is welcome news for everyone who lives and works in the Borderlands.“

Lord Jim O'Neill, vice chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership which seeks to promote an economic growth strategy for the north of England, also welcomed the chancellor's funding pledge.

"More than £260m of funding in the Spring Statement to help deliver the Borderlands deal is welcome to help unlock economic growth across the South of Scotland and the North of England.

"Thanks to the hard work of John Stevenson MP and many others, the money announced today will help to address the vast economic potential of the Borderlands, traditionally held back by geographical challenges and historic underfunding."

A collaborative strategy developed by Carlisle City, Cumbria County, Northumberland, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway councils, the funding announcement was described as an "ambitious approach to cross-border working" by Scottish secretary David Mundell.