"DOESN'T make a lot of sense to me," said one reader after people were asked what their responses to plans for two new unitary authorities in Cumbria were.

An article in The Mail revealed Cllr Stewart Young, the leader of Cumbria County Council, was 'bitterly disappointed' by the decision.

Plans approved by Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick will see two unitary councils established in Cumbria - an East unitary council covering Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland, and a West unitary council covering Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland.

Readers were asked how they had reacted to the news themselves after seeing Cllr Young's comments.

Allan Calvert said: "Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me - Millom in with Carlisle?

"Penrith in with Barrow? Silly.

"Let’s rejoin Lancashire or have a Morecambe Bay authority."

Allen Rodgers said: "Stewart Young is 'bitterly disappointed' because Carlisle won't control the whole of Cumbria, just half of it."

Guy James Pickup said: "Need to dismantle the Lake District National Park first!"

Alison Gill said: "This is definitely a poor decision."

Cllr Young said the proposal for two unitary authorities would cause 'disruption'.

"Our proposal for a single unitary was clearly the best proposal," he said.

"It met all three of the Government’s tests, it would have improved local services, it would have delivered the most savings and it could have been delivered with the least disruption."