Cumbria is helping to set the national agenda in the nuclear industry.

Work by Women in Nuclear's Cumbria branch will be included in a Government gender balance action plan as part of the Nuclear Sector Deal.

Women in Nuclear Cumbria was set up in 2018.

It aims to improve the representation of women in the sector and increase aspirations.

It runs a number of programmes, including the Open the Door programme, which introduces people at the start of their career to major players in the industry.

It has led to several youngsters being given opportunities they may not otherwise had access to.

Claire Gallery-Strong, outgoing chair of Women in Nuclear, said: "Cumbria is setting the national standard on how to tackle gender balance in the UK as our flagship initiative has been included in the Government road map action plan to achieve the gender balance in the sector deal."

She made the announcement at an event held to mark International Women's Day, which was on Sunday.

Held at the National College for Nuclear at Lillyhall, near Workington, speakers included Professor Melanie Brownridge, director of technology and innovation at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; Superintendent Donna Jones, of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary; Firn Ireland, head of operations at Sellafield Limited and Sarah Purdham, managing director of Prima Uno.

Ms Ireland told the 60-strong audience: "Leadership is not about what you are born with.

"It's not how tall you are, or how loud.

"You have to work at it. Study it.

"Make a leader from who you are."

The new chair of Women in Nuclear in Cumbria is Sheena Taylor.

She told the audience her plans for the future, including a focus on caring policies and continuing the branch's work to set national policy.

Mrs Gallery-Strong added: “There is a real appetite for collaboration in this area.

"We have people at various stages of their career, from a broad range of organisations and disciplines, all hoping to share ideas and experiences."