HIGH streets across Furness and South Lakeland are set to benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment.

Barrow Borough Council will receive £158,859 and South Lakeland District Council £192,936 to help local high streets reopen and attract shoppers and tourists.

Improvements can be made to help them safely and successfully open after lockdown thanks to the Government funding.

A total of £56 million will be invested through the new Welcome Back Fund to help councils across England boost tourism, improve green spaces and provide more outdoor seating areas, markets and food stall pop-ups – giving people more, safer options to reunite with friends and relatives this Summer.

A spokesperson for Barrow Borough Council said: "We welcome the funding for Barrow announced as part of the Welcome Back initiative.

"We are in the process of working through how best to distribute the money to ensure maximum impact across Barrow Borough, as we prepare for our high streets to open once more."

The MP for Barrow and Furness said he was delighted that both Barrow Borough Council and South Lakeland District Council are getting further financial support to welcome back customers and tourists.

He said he was looking forward to seeing how the money would be spent to help attract people back to the high streets post-lockdown.

Simon Fell said: “I know how difficult it has been for businesses on our high streets over the last year, and I am determined to secure them all the help they need to recover.

“That is why I am delighted that our area will receive £350,000 as part of the Government’s new Welcome Back Fund, which will help our streets such as Duke Street, Dalton Road, Market Street in Dalton, Market Street in Ulverston, and Broughton Square to reopen safely and successfully this Summer as restrictions lift.

“This will ensure that our high streets have the support they need as we move into recovery, and build back better from the pandemic.”