A new funding package to boost tourism after the floods has been dismissed as woefully and totally inadequate.

The funding announcement includes £2 million towards fixing bridges, rebuilding walls and restoring footpaths across the iconic Lake District National Park.

About 180 apprentices have been identified by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to help with the repairs.

The support package will also feature £1m in new funding to launch a marketing campaign, co-ordinated by VisitEngland, encouraging British families to spend their Easter break in the north of England.

The Prime Minister yesterday travelled to Cumbria to announce the deal but was criticised for what has been seen as a token gesture – and a far cry from the half a billion pound cash injection Cumbria is calling for.

Cumbria County Council leader Stewart Young described it as “totally inadequate” while Liberal Democrat leader and Cumbrian MP Tim Farron said: “Instead of bringing his cheque book, he seems only to have remembered his small change.”

David Cameron saw first-hand how businesses and tourism has been affected by the flooding.

In a carefully orchestrated visit, the Prime Minister was ushered into National Trust property Allan Bank in Grasmere following a short visit to Grasmere Primary School.

He held a brief round table meeting with invited business leaders, including Cumbria Tourism chief executive Ian Stephens and National Park chairman Mike McKinley.

Mr Cameron then defended the £2m package of spending on footpaths for walkers against claims the region needs money for roads and bridges.

This week’s storms led to the collapse of the 18th-century Bell Bridge, between Sebergham and Welton. 

Mr Cameron said: “There’s a lot we need to do here in Cumbria. We are helping with roads, bridges and footpaths and the A591 is an absolute priority.

“We have already said we will put tens of millions to roads and bridges.”

On the A591, he added: “It’s hard work because the road was very badly damaged. We have to get it right.

“It needs a proper piece of work so it’s resilient for the future but tourism is also important. The clear message we want to get out is Cumbria is open for business and people should think about coming here this Easter.”

Mr Cameron was accompanied by floods minister and Penrith and The Border MP Rory Stewart.

Mr Stewart described the package of measures as “tremendous”, adding it was entirely separate to funding for roads and bridges destroyed or damaged by the recent storms.

He said: “This is additional money that has been announced. The cost of repairs to infrastructure will be underwritten. This isn’t going to fall on the shoulders of Cumbrians.”

Mr Young dismissed this though, calling for the Government to show its commitment to the county with a serious investment.

“This money is nowhere near enough to get Cumbria back on its feet following the floods,” he said. “With an estimated £500m of damage to our infrastructure, including £20m in the Lake District National Park alone, today’s funding announcement is totally inadequate.”

He added: “It is now eight weeks since the floods hit Cumbria and this has to be, and should be government’s, top priority.”

Mr Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, described the Prime Minister’s visit as “a missed opportunity”.

He continued: “Of course the extra funding for infrastructure and tourism promotion is welcome. But it is woefully inadequate given the scale of the problems we are facing. There is a £460m shortfall in the funding required to repair flood-damaged roads and bridges across Cumbria. 

"Cameron’s £2m is nothing but a token gesture, which will leave local residents, businesses and councils to pick up the lion’s share of the bill. It appears that Cumbria is simply not a priority for the government.”

The funding package also sees the funding of a new £4 million Holidays at Home are GREAT Campaign, and advertising space worth £500,000 has been made available at Heathrow to promote flood-affected areas.

The visit to Cumbria came as Greenpeace campaigners and people from flood-hit areas set about installing an artwork outside Parliament featuring 500 pairs of wellies. Each pair carries a message from someone affected by the recent flooding, telling stories of parents carrying their children out of flooded buildings, older people trapped in their homes and people losing their jobs.

A Greenpeace petition with almost 100,000 signatures is being handed into Downing Street, calling on Mr Cameron to increase funding for flood defences and speed up the switch to clean power to tackle climate change which is driving more extreme weather.