WOMEN in Cumbria are being called on to volunteer themselves as members of the county council, so that the authority reflects the wider population.

The call for action comes exactly 100 years since women could first stand for election as councillors, November 1, 1907.

There are currently 17 women county councillors in Cumbria, just 20 per cent of the overall number of 84 county councillors.

According to the latest population figures for the county, women account for just 51 per cent (252,700) of the overall Cumbrian population of 496,200.

Cumbria's newest county councillor Patricia Bell, who represents Penrith East said that there were still gender battles to be fought.

And Anne Glendinning, Cumbria's longest serving female councillor with 26 years service said: "Women account for over 50 per cent of the population and it's important that representative bodies should be precisely that - representative.

"We need more women councillors, more councillors from ethnic minorities and more young councillors too.

"I think some of our council meeting times could be looked at a little more "mum-friendly" so they're not clashing with school picking up time.

"Then we might see some more young women becoming councillors."