A new recruit has joined a leading Cumbrian legal firm.

Private client solicitor Krystal Garnett has been appointed by Cartmell Shepherd and will eventually work from the company's Penrith office.

At the moment, she is working from her home near Kirkby Stephen, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said: “It’s obviously slightly strange in that I am starting a new job in the middle of the coronavirus situation.

“Because we have the ability to work from home it’s very much business as usual in the way in which we can support all our clients."

Cartmell Shepherd said it moved fast to ensure that all the technology needed was in place for their teams to work from home if and when required.

Krystal and her partner Richard Moreland, who works at Ast in Penrith, are members of Howgill Harriers running club.

She said: “I took up running six years ago, and started with road running. Since then I’ve got into trail and fell running and particularly ultra distance running."

Born in New Zealand, Krystal moved to Britain when she was young and grew up in North Wales.

She studied at Keele University and then at law college in Chester.

Attracted by the great outdoors, Krystal moved to Cumbria and has worked as a private client solicitor for Thomson Hayton Winkley in Windermere for four years.

Peter Stafford, managing director of Cartmell Shepherd, said: “We are delighted that Krystal is joining the business. Anyone who lives or works in the Penrith area who needs expert legal advice will benefit from having Krystal’s experience on the doorstep."