THE next stage of the project that will see the county council's car ferry on Windermere replaced is under way. 

The procurement process is to see shipyards across the UK submit their visions for a speedier, electric boat. 

The new ferry will replace the current 'Mallard' model, which is more than 30 years old and is suffering from reducing reliability and increasing repair costs.

Like the Mallard, the new ferry will travel across the lake courtesy of wire cables.

The target is for an order to be placed with the successful shipyard in autumn of this year and the new ferry to be delivered in the spring of 2024. 

Two information sessions were held during June to enable the public to ask questions and find out more.

A county council spokesman said further public information sessions would be held later this year after bids for the ferry project had been received.