Flood recovery work across the Lake District has reached an important milestone.

The National Park is celebrating its 50th bridge repair, with the project running ahead of schedule.

Rangers who are carrying out the work updated funders at Mungrisdale, near Caldbeck, where the 50th bridge has been completed.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is providing £3m towards the national park's Routes to Resilience programme.

Routes to Resilience was set up after an estimated £5.8million of damages were caused to the Public Right of Way network by Storm Desmond almost two years ago in December 2015.

Dedicated rangers have been working tirelessly since January to repair and rebuild the damaged areas, whilst creating resilience measures to prevent future flood damage.

Ged Acton, Routes to Resilience project manager, said: "We’ve reached the half-way mark of this 18-month project and we’re pleased to say that we’re ahead of schedule.

"The routes that our rangers are repairing make a considerable difference to local people, businesses and visitors to the National Park, and so we’re working through the projects as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Andy Tordoff, head of northern region for the RPA, saod: "The Routes to Resilience team are embarking on an ambitious agenda of work and it’s fantastic to see that the repair work is being completed as quickly as possible.

"Since January the rangers have completed over 100 projects, all of which contribute to communities and visitors across the Lake District."

The bridge at Mungrisdale provides a link between the village hall and Mill Inn pub, a route which is replied upon in the community.

Alan Bird, vice chairman of Mungrisdale parish council, said: "The bridge, which is a public footpath, has been out of action since December 2015 and without it there was a real risk to public safety. The only alternative route was to walk along the road which is very narrow and hazardous for pedestrians due to the blind corners."

Routes to Resilience was launched in January 2017 to restore 64 bridges, 102 paths and 56 items of access furniture, such as gates and stiles, by September 2018.

Extensive projects to date have included bridges at Bog House, Springs Wood and River Caldew, bank stabilisation at Gillside Campsite, and drainage and track restoration along the Old Coffin Route in Rydal.

Alternative sources of funding are being sought to address the total repair bill following Storm Desmond, which is estimated to be around £10million.