EIGHT well-worn footpaths in the Lake District which are regularly pounded by the crunch of feet and the fall of rain are to get a makeover.

A grant of £24,000 is being handed over from the Friends of the Lake District to the Lake District National Park Authority and The National Trust's upland path repair project.

The eight paths to benefit are on the flanks of Mellbreak; above Scarth Gap in Buttermere; Millbeck to Carlside; Skiddaw Little Man; Sticks Pass; Goats Hause to Coniston Old Man summit; Scales Tarn to Blencathra; and Wansfell above Ambleside.

The money is in addition to the £20,000 that FLD has already given this year for repair works to the paths.

Richard Fox, the authority's upland paths adviser, said: "It's fabulous news. The weather, and millions of feet every year, badly damage upland paths. We've identified 145 paths in the National Park that need essential repair work - at a cost of £5m. The money from FLD will help us conserve the beauty, cultural and natural heritage of England's finest landscape."

Jack Ellerby, policy officer with FLD, said: "This project demonstrates good practice partnership working to benefit the conservation of the Lakeland fells. There are very serious erosion problems to be tackled and we are pleased to be playing our part."

The partners in the Lake District Upland Path Landscape Restoration Project are the Lake District National Park Authority, the National Trust and English Nature.

Additional funding is coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Friends of the Lake District, Hawkshead Clothing and the Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership.