A decision has been made by Cumbria County Council to press on with legal action against the Government's decision to reform Local Government in Cumbria.

The UK Government made the decision to reform how Cumbria is run earlier this year, launching a consultation into how the new model of Local Government should look.

The winning proposal will see two Local Authorities in Cumbria as opposed to six, one council for Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland, another for Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland.

But in August, the county council sent a pre-action protocol letter warning of their intention to seek a judicial review into the decision.

And after consulting with a legal adviser this week, the council has revealed it will press on with the legal action.

A spokesperson for Cumbria County Council said: "At today’s meeting of the council’s cabinet the decision was taken to proceed with a Judicial Review of the Government’s decision to create two new unitary councils for Cumbria.

"This followed careful consideration by Cabinet of the Government’s response to the pre-action protocol letter submitted by the council in August. As with all Cabinet decisions, this decision is subject to the council’s call-in procedure.

"In parallel with this legal process, the council will continue to work with Government and district council colleagues on the planning for the creation of the new councils.

"Further information will be provided as matters progress."