With Barrow in Tier three and experiencing some of the highest infection rates in the UK, South Lakeland in Tier two and 6,637 confirmed Covid-19 cases across the county, in October Cumbrians awaited news of a much-discussed second lockdown.

In other news, there were plans to build a new alternative provision school in Barrow which was hailed as "an exciting time for education." The new 40-place school, supporting up to 25 young people with social, emotional and mental health needs, was being planned on derelict land at Channelside.

Major plans were also revealed to transform Barrow’s Victoria Hotel into a modern 19-bed building to provide sheltered accommodation for residents.

Vandals repeatedly damaged Covid-19 safety signs in two Lake District towns.

Signs and banners advising people to observe social distancing in Windermere and Bowness were ripped down, slashed and set on fire.

Lifelong Barrow AFC fan Dave Martin died after a period of ill health.

He influenced many of Barrow’s youngsters to start supporting the town’s football club by buying surplus season tickets which he would then give out to the town’s youngsters.

The newest addition to Windermere Lake Cruises’ fleet of boats officially set sail. The brand-new 300-seater MV Swift became the biggest boat to be launched onto England’s longest lake in 80 years.

Supporters of a new coal mine in west Cumbria said the scheme was a "generational opportunity" and one that would help the area "prosper both nationally and internationally." West Cumbria Mining's revised application for the plant at the former Marchon site and Pow Beck Valley in Whitehaven was approved by the county council.

A climbing wall was set to open in Quebec Street, Ulverston, but due to Covid-19 would initially only be accepting experienced climbers to help reduce transmission.

Barrow’s Christmas lights switch-on event would go online this year due to the pandemic, it was announced.

Poet and environmentalist Norman Nicholson was the inspiration for a 'sand graffiti' project where volunteers carved one of his poems into the sand at Haverigg beach. Irene Rogan, an artist from Millom, organised the event.

Former zookeeper Bradley Tomes, 25, who broke into a zoo and stole two penguins to sell on Facebook, was jailed for 32 months. Tomes, of Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, carried out two raids at the South Lakes Safari Zoo, near Dalton, in July and October 2018 where he also stole three macaws and 12 spoonbills – eight of which later died – and a number of other exotic birds.

The first new Co-op branch to be built in Barrow for more than two decades opened in Abbey Road.

Kendal’s mayor helped to show off some of Cumbria’s culinary classics when he made an appearance on a television show. Alvin Finch guest starred on writer, actor and stand-up comedian Rosie Jones’ new travelogue series, which saw the northern comic stopping off in the Lakes with her special guest Scarlett Moffatt.

Nearly £400,000 was pledged to help rough sleepers and other vulnerable people in South Lakeland. Barrow MP Simon Fell welcomed the Government’s plans to provide accommodation for those in need.

In Kendal, the King’s Food Bank reported that they had had supplied 24,329 meals during 2020 – an increase of 21 per cent on the same period last year.

More than £940,000 was spent on South Lakeland’s roads as part of the county council’s surface dressing programme, it was reported.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron claimed nearly £50,000 of parliamentary expenses in 2019/2020 – according to expenses submitted to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

And finally, Cumbria Police Dog Section gave their newest four-legged recruit a new name thanks to the suggestions of the public.

The eight-week-old black Labrador pup was named Willow.