ANGER over the "dire" state of transport has seen a furious backlash over comments made by the transport secretary earlier this week.

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock slammed Chris Grayling's comments after he suggested the north should be responsible for their own transport.

He said: "Chris Grayling's appalling comments sum up the neglect the Conservatives are showing towards the state of transport in the north.

"Nowhere is this more apparent than the dire state of the Furness line at present, with ancient rolling stock, infrequent services, constant delays and cancellations. Warm words during the election campaign on critically needed schemes like the Dove Ford pinch on the A595 have evaporated.

"We will not give up fighting for the transport system that other parts of the country take for granted but this disdainful attitude from government ministers shows what we are up against."

Writing in the Yorkshire Post, Mr Grayling said: "It is central government's responsibility to provide funding and a delivery structure that ensures efficiency, value for money and accountability.

"But, beyond this, I want the north to take control."

Millom mayor Angela Dixon wasn't surprised by the comments.

She said: "We always get left out. Anything north of Manchester doesn't exist as far as the government is concerned.

"We need a decent service for bus and trains up here. We've just got our World Heritage status and people can't get here if they don't have their own car. It's just wrong.

"They all need to come up here and see how far it is on all the bad roads from Millom to the hospital for example."

The pair were joined in his criticism by Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who said: "The transport secretary’s comments are typical of a government who couldn’t care less about the north.

"The decision to pull the plug on vital rail infrastructure in the north such as the Lakes Line and at the same time commit to pumping billions into Crossrail 2 in the south proves that the government have completely ditched the idea of having a Northern Powerhouse and turned their back on Cumbria.

"This unacceptable bias towards the south and especially London cannot go on for any longer."

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison was contacted but was unavailable for comment.