A caravan park in Cumbria has been named the best in the Northwest of England.

Green Acres Caravan Park, in Houghton, Carlisle, has been named the AA Campsite of the Year for the Northwest this year.

A phenomenal achievement for the park, which is run by wife and husband Josie and Mike Brown, the award followed a surprise inspection of the park conducted earlier in the year.

Josie and Mike took to Facebook initially to tell everyone about their huge achievement, writing: “Wow, what a way to end the season.

“Huge thank you to the AA for acknowledging us as the best campsite in the Northwest.

“We are absolutely over the moon to have won this award and to end 2022 on such a high, it makes us even more excited to see what is in store for Green Acres in 2023!”

Speaking about their background in running the park, getting the award, and what winning the award means to them, Josie explained how the pair left their full-time jobs to run the park in 2019, inheriting it from Mike’s father who was running it beforehand.

Josie said that Covid proved to be a rough couple of years for the business, but evidently they have picked themselves back up and, with two young children, they dedicate everything they have to it.

Josie added: “It's a nice work and life balance, it's full on in the summer when we’re working pretty much 24/7, but we’ve got the year off in winter.

“You get inspected each year by the AA.

“You’re rated like hotels are in stars, but for campsites and caravan parks it’s in pennants, and we got the highest award which is five pennants

“An inspector comes out, you don't get any nod to say that they're coming, and they do a report on your park.

“We got the reward by complete surprise in the post.

“We’re really, really honoured to have received it.”

READ MORE: Bizarre electronic artist to perform in city venue