Plans to expand the Lake District National Park boundaries have been rejected by Cumbria County Council.

Possible extensions to the south and east proposed by Natural England met with opposition on the grounds that this could force up house prices on land that was brought inside the new boundaries.

Natural England's plans also include potential extensions to the neighbouring Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The county council's cabinet member for the environment Tim Knowles suggested that those who wish to don their walking gear and enjoy these parts of Cumbria do not need an expansion.

He remarked: "The areas that Natural England are proposing become parts of the national parks are already beautiful and unspoiled areas of countryside and this won't change if they aren't incorporated into the national parks."

Other possible changes to national park boundaries include a proposal to incorporate Blaenau Ffestiniog into Snowdonia, a plan recently backed by the National Park authority.

Posted by Dan Mirza