WESTMORLAND and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron welcomed an important victory for his long-running campaign for better transport links.

Windermere will now be linked to Manchester Airport using new hybrid trains, which means overhead wires in the national park would disappear.

Under the plans, the Lakes Line will have four direct services a day from May 2018, with new trains being implemented from December 2019 and hybrids in use from 2021.

The hybrids can switch between electric and diesel.

Back in 2014 Mr Farron secured funding for an electrification project which should have been finished this year but was delayed.

Mr Farron said the new lines would provide a "real boost" to the area but raised concerns over further delays.

He added: “At the moment these plans are just promises on paper.

"The Conservative government must not use this change in plan as an excuse for further delays.

“New hybrid technology is a great opportunity for this line and for the South Lakes."