A £325,000 project will remove 700m of overhead power lines in a west Cumbrian village.

Engineers from Electricity North West started work to take down the lines which have been keeping the power on in Beckermet for almost 70 years.

Initial work, for around six weeks, involves engineers making the overhead lines redundant before safely dismantling and removing them.

Jonathan Eggleston, programme delivery manager for Electricity North West, said: “These power lines have served the area well since the 1950s, but it’s now time for us to replace them with more efficient underground power cables.

“We invest more than £140m a year in upgrading and maintaining the power network across the North West to help ensure our customers can charge their phones, stream their favourite TV shows and heat their homes. This project also has the extra benefit of enhancing the local landscape as well."

And he added: "All local businesses are open as usual and we would like to thank customers and local residents for their continued support and patience during this essential project.”

To allow engineers to safely carry out the work the Nursery Road in Beckermet will be closed for the next four weeks and a full diversion is clearly signposted.

This project is part of Electricity North West’s ongoing maintenance of the local power network. It isn’t related to National Grid’s North West Coast Connections project, which is currently paused.