PRIME minister David Cameron visited the Lakes as he unveiled a £3m package of measures to promote tourism across the area.

The plan will see £2m spent on repairing footpaths and stone walls on the fellsides of the Lake District as well as a £1m PR campaign to encourage people to visit the North of England this Easter.

But the PM had to defend heavy criticism of the move within the county that the money was a only a gesture towards the £460m repair bill Cumbria faces to restore its flood-destroyed roads and bridges.

Accompanied by floods minister, Penrith and the Borders MP Rory Stewart, a suited Mr Cameron first chatted to pupils from Grasmere Primary School before arriving by car at Allan Bank, a National Trust-owned property in the flood hit village.

There, he attended a round table meeting with business owners as well as Ian Stephens, Cumbria Tourism boss and Mike McKinley, chairman of the Lake District National Park.

During his strictly managed trip, Mr Cameron admitted: "There's a lot we need to do here in Cumbria.

"We are helping with roads, bridges and footpaths and the A591 is an absolute priority.

"It's hard work because the road was so badly damaged. We have to get it right.

"It needs a proper piece of work so it's resilient for the future."

Mr Cameron added: "But tourism is also important.

"The clear message we want to get out is that Cumbria is open for business and people should think about coming here this Easter."

The Lake District National Park Authority is to manage the allocation of the money to repair its damaged paths, walls and byways.

Some of the work is to be done by an army of apprentices - from colleges as well as BAE Systems, in Barrow, and Sellafield - who are said to have been 'identified' and 'mobilised' by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The marketing campaign, which will target families and tour operators in London and the South East, will include posters and adverts at Heathrow Airport and on the London Underground.

But Cumbria County Council leader Councillor Stewart Young said what the people and businesses of the area needed was repairs to roads and bridges rather than footpaths for walkers.

"This money is nowhere near enough to get Cumbria back on its feet following the floods," he said.

"With an estimated £500m of damage to our infrastructure, including £20m in the Lake District National Park alone, today's funding announcement is totally inadequate."

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron added: "Cameron's £2m is nothing but a token gesture, which will leave local residents, businesses and councils to pick up the lion's share of the bill."

However Rory Stewart said the commitment from the government to help get Cumbria's tourism economy back on its feet was 'tremendous' and separate from a £40m sum already pledged towards its roads infrastructure and the £23m project to restore the A591.

"This is additional money that has been announced today," he told the Evening Mail.

"We are working with the council and the cost of repairs to infrastructure will be underwritten.

"This isn't going to fall on the shoulders of Cumbrians."

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