Squabbling councillors have vowed to put their differences aside in efforts to secure critical cash for Cumbria.

County councillors say they will speak with one voice to lobby national power-brokers to for money to improve roads and other infrastructure.

The pledge came following a mammoth council chamber debate in which politicians went back-and-forth for an hour over an amendment to a motion - which they all agreed on in principal in any case.

Conservative councillor Matt Brereton laid down a motion calling for colleagues to agree a concerted plan to promote and escalate the case for investing in the county.

Now was the time, it said, to put aside party politics and work together.

That triggered an a minor amendment by council deputy leader Ian Stewart being put forward.

It stated that they should lobby for improvements to the rail networks as well as roads and called on Cumbria’s MPs to promote the council's efforts to get more central government funding.

And it was this that triggered the debate.

Mr Stewart, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "I thought it was really great you brought this motion to council to raise this issue.

"Unfortunately there were a couple of things where I was saying 'actually that is not enough'."

Gareth Ellis, Conservative councillor for Belah, said there was no real need for the amendment.

"Stop waiting and stop expecting your mouths to be filled with gold," he said. "We need to go out and grab the opportunities."

Labour's Keith Little, the cabinet member for highways, said: “Don’t criticise people on this side for holding people back. We are wise to what is going on.

"I’m happy to support this motion. We do need to work together.”

Council leader Stewart Young said: “We are doing everything we can to try to secure an investment in our future.

“I wholeheartedly welcome that offer if your are able to open doors we cannot open or access cash we can’t. I certainly welcome that.”

Labour's Anne Burns added: "If we can't get the county council speaking in one voice, what hope is there for the rest of Cumbria."

Cabinet members stressed there isn't currently any money available but that everything is being done to ensure future funding can be accessed.

When it came to the vote the majority voted for the amendment which then receives almost the full support of members, bar two who abstained.

Both Mr Young and James Airey, Conservative Group leader, have written separately to all of Cumbria's MPs urging a new approach.

In the coming months, the Government will be developing a national road investment strategy.

In his letter, Mr Young set out nine key road schemes that he wants them to lobby for - including the Carlisle Southern Link Road and improvements to the A595, A69, A590 and A66.

These have been drawn up by the county council in association with the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and identified as being of "greatest strategic importance".