A CARLISLE councillor has today taken on a major role in one of the country's key unions.

Labour Carlisle City Councillor Louise Atkinson has today taken on the role of National President of the National Education Union - a UK trade union for school teachers, further education lecturers, education support staff and teaching assistants.

Cllr Atkinson has said the new role is 'the biggest honour' of her life.

The role comes as the union prepares to hold strike ballots on a large scale across the country, like many other unions up and down the country who are choosing to take strike action.

In a statement on social media, Cllr Atkinson said: "Today I take on the biggest role and the very biggest honour of my life as NEU national president just as we enter the biggest set of strike ballots in education for a generation."