SOUTH Lakeland is the ‘furlough capital’ of the UK with 40 per cent of its workers having used the Government’s Job Retention Scheme (JRS) since the beginning of the pandemic.

Official statistics show Westmorland and Lonsdale is top out of the constituencies - at 43 per cent.

Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said the figures for South Lakeland were unsurprising given Cumbria’s reliance on tourism, a sector which has been closed since March, and called on the public to ‘get behind the industry’ by supporting local businesses.

"Whilst bookings for overnight stays are increasing, they lag far behind what they would normally be for this time of year," she said.

"Spend is also significantly down and social distancing measures mean capacity is less.

“We do believe that, as people’s reassurance and confidence grows in the positive experience they will have, more customers will choose to return.

"However, there is no way of recouping the income that’s been lost over the last three months, and with winter just a few months away this is a significant concern for our businesses.

“We really need our local communities to get behind the industry by supporting local businesses whenever possible, like they have been doing throughout lockdown. The way local people responded in March, April, May and June was absolutely fantastic, and we need this strong showing of support to continue."

The statistics, announced by HM Revenue & Customs, include JRS claims made up to June 30 and show the Eden district placing second UK-wide with a JRS take-up rate of 39 per cent.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: “We’re heading for huge hardship unless the Government agrees to the package proposed by myself, Cumbria Tourism, MPs from across the House [of Commons] and indeed tourism organisations right across the country - from Visit Durham to Visit Cornwall.

“The Government must fast-track a specialist package for hospitality and tourism to save that industry.”

Cllr Robin Ashcroft, South Lakeland District Council portfolio holder for economy, culture and leisure, said the council was responding to the impact of the virus in the region ‘both at a local district level and within our wider economic geography’.

“A great deal of work is already under way, including the formation of a strategic renewal group that has a particular focus looking at the impacts on tourism,” he said.