CALLS to strip Northern from operating the Lakes and Furness Lines have received widespread support.

It follows the news of the East Coast Main Line being brought back under government control, following the failure of the current franchise.

Cllr Ian Stewart, at a meeting of Cumbria County Council's local committee for South Lakeland, proposed that a letter is penned to transport secretary Chris Grayling MP, urging him to do the same for the beleaguered Cumbrian lines.

"I propose we send a letter with our views on the operation of both elements of the franchise, and request urgent action be taken immediately," said the Liberal Democrat councillor.

Over the past six weeks there have been well over 200 cancellations on the line which runs from Oxenholme to Windermere.

In supporting him, Clr James Airey, leader of the Conservative group on CCC, said: "If the minister is in the mood for stripping franchises then we should not hang around.

"We should send something as a matter of urgency. The service is really crap."

Cllr Will Clark, Lib Dem member for the Lakes division, said the poor service was harming the reputation of the Lake District.

"Having got World Heritage Site status for the Lake District, we are seeing more visitors and we want as many of them as possible to be using the Lake Line," he said.

"The first impression people get is 'welcome to the Lake District, we can't do transport'. We need to write to London about this."

The call of the county councillors came hot-on-the-heels of Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron making a similar plea in the House of Commons.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Farron urged Prime Minister Theresa May and the government to strip Northern of the franchise.

Almost 2,000 people have already signed the MP's online petition calling for the company to have the franchise taken off them after mass cancellations over the past few months for commuters and tourists visiting the Lake District.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Farron said: “The Lakes Line from Oxenholme to Windermere has seen 160 cancellations in the month of April and in the first week of May 72 cancellations, risking the potential futures of GCSE students as they try and get to school and get left stranded, affecting people trying to get to work and the hundreds and hundreds of people trying to visit what is Britain’s second biggest tourist destination."

In response, Theresa May said: “The Transport Secretary is aware of the issue that he has raised. I understand that the Department for Transport is working with Northern to identify these issues and to see a quick resolution.”