Young adventurers have a new challenge in Barrow thanks to a treasure map initiative by local leaders.

Westmorland and Furness Council have launched the Barrow Treasure Map Trail, transforming the town into a "fantastical shipyard with engineering elves crafting super subs and splendid ships".

Using illustrations and picture clues, children can explore their town while navigating streets and collecting treasures.

Aimed at children and their accompanying families, the trail promotes active lifestyles while highlighting Barrow's heritage.

The town's story is unravelled by finding statues, signs, notable architecture and other treasures.

Each map, a colour-splashed A3 poster, can be folded, followed, and written on by young explorers as they uncover clues.

Trail completion rewards the explorers with a downloadable certificate.

The map trails are free, available at Barrow Library and The Forum's box office.

The trail project is funded by a £2,000 contribution from the #BrilliantBarrow Town Deal's Place Programme.

Councillor Jonathan Brook, Leader of the council, said: "This very appealing map is designed to inspire children aged five to 12 to explore their home town with parents, grandparents and carers.

"We hope the Barrow Treasure Map Trail will spark some fascinating conversations as the older generations share memories of their own childhoods and working lives in Barrow.

"Who knows, they might even spot something they’ve never seen before.

"One of our priorities as a council is to support active, healthy, happy lives for young and old in thriving communities.

"This family activity will bring people of different ages together in a fun and meaningful way and you don’t need to use a mobile phone!

"It will also encourage the next generation of Barrovians to take pride in their home town, as well as giving first-time visitors to Barrow a pocket-sized introduction to its history."

The trail's creation was a collaboration between the council and Treasure Map Trails Ltd, a company by Daniel Johnson, a Bedfordshire dad who sought innovative ways to keep his children entertained during the lockdown.

This initiative marks the company's first map location in Cumbria.