Politicians and local businesses gathered in Parliament yesterday to celebrate the best of Cumbria.

MPs from Cumbria's six constituencies invited independent businesses from their areas to represent the county at the annual celebration in the Jubilee Room.

Two businesses from Barrow accompanied Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock to the event.

Deli.sh pie shop won a pie competition at St George’s Church to get the chance to represent the constituency.

And CM Home Fragrance was voted for by Barrow residents in a Facebook poll to represent the the area.

Deli.sh brought a huge range of pies and other snacks including lasagne pie, black pudding scotch eggs, and a classic steak and kidney pie.

CM Home Fragrance had an impressive display of their newest products, electronically powered wax melts, as well as classic reed diffusers.

Mr Woodcock said: “It was fantastic to see our finest local enterprise in the hallowed halls of parliament. These two businesses have gone from strength-to-strength in recent years and deserve every success.

“I’d like to give a massive thanks to Caragh, Emma, Sam, Charlotte, and Olivia for trekking all the way down to London. You’re a massive credit to our area and made this event the success it was.”

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron hailed Cumbria Day as “another resounding success.”

Mr Farron was able to give the event a shout out at the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions.

He quipped to PM Theresa May the produce was 'all the stuff she would need for a packed lunch if she was considering a walking holiday'.

He added: "Could I remind her of course that Cumbria contains, after London, Britain's biggest tourist destination.

"But today, Cumbria has come to London."

Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, who later attended the event, said: "He's a sort of one-man tourist board."

Mrs May replied: "While I recognise that Cumbria has good produce Berkshire has good produce too."

Mr Farron said afterwards: “This year’s Cumbria Day was another resounding success.

“As ever it was a brilliant opportunity to shine the spotlight on the most beautiful county on the planet.

“There was a real buzz at the event, and I hope it will help to provide a boost to the county’s businesses and tourist trade.

“My thanks go to all the businesses which came to the event, in particular Hawkshead Relish, Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery and Pennington’s Tea and Coffee.

“These businesses show the great range of products that South Lakeland has to offer. It is always an honour to represent our area, but events like this make me particularly proud.”

Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland, also described it as a 'huge success'.

Mrs Harrison welcomed along Keswick based café Kat’s Kitchen which specialises in plant based dishes as well as cakes, bakes and sweet treats.

Mrs Harrison said: “Cumbria Day 2019 has been a huge success and working alongside my Cumbrian colleagues to showcase our local businesses and world-class food and drink industry here in Parliament has been a privilege. I would like to thank Kat and Nigel from Kat’s Kitchen for giving up their time to travel to Westminster and represent Keswick and Copeland with their outstanding homemade vegan produce.

“Last year, Cumbria and the Lake District enjoyed over 47 million visitors, bringing in £2.9 billion to the local economy and supporting almost 65,000 jobs, however, locally it is important we continue to back our independently run businesses throughout the year to ensure they remain on our local high-streets and in our towns and villages for generations.”