A scheme designed to encourage the growth of businesses in rural areas has won a regional award.

The Rural Planning Facilitation Service (RPFS) was set up by the Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency back in 2001 and has been running successfully ever since.

During the last seven years, it has acted a mediation service between local authorities and businesses in northwest England.

As a result, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has recognised the initiative by giving it the Northwest Best Rural Planning Project Award.

Mike Eastham, awards coordinator at RTPI, commented: "The regional judges were impressed by the pioneering nature of this unique rural planning service."

He added that the RPFS initiative is a "useful model" that could be implemented in other parts of the UK.

As well as winning the regional award, the scheme has also been shortlisted to receive national recognition.

The RPFS scheme is designed to promote and assist farm diversification and rural development in Cumbria and works alongside the North West Development Agency