Doctor's surgery staff have welcomed plans for a dedicated bus service to help patients attend appointments from the new year.

Cumberland Council plans to launch 15 new routes across Cumbria between the beginning of next month and the start of January.

The service, known as Cumberland Go, is subsidised by the Labour-led local authority and includes routes back to Senhouse Street in Maryport and to Carlisle Healthcare's South surgery.

Dr Robert Westgate, from the surgery, said it was a "really welcome development" and would help improve access for people who did not drive.

The route to the surgery will be known as Doctor 1 (DR 1), according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Leader of the council Mark Fryer said: "We can subsidise only for so long, so people have got to use it or lose it."

During the 2025/26 phase, the council received £3,315,344 in capital funding and £1,646,831 in revenue funding for the new public transport service.

From 3 November, services delivered by Reays and Stagecoach will be:

* Maryport - Dearham Town Service (MD1)

* Cockermouth - Maryport (68)

* Cockermouth Town Services (C123)

* Maryport - Frizington (30)

* Workington - Carlisle (300)

* Durdar to Cargo (64), with initial service from 3 November to 1 December, after which there will be additional peak journeys and a link to Currock Community Centre (71,93 and 64)

* Millom Town Service (M1 and 7), operating from 3 November to 1 December, after which it will become Whitehaven - Ravenglass / Ravenglass - Millom - Barrow (X7 and 7)

* Cleator Moor - West Cumberland Hospital (22), operating from 3 November to 5 January, when it will be upgraded to the new Whitehaven Town Services 22/22A and 1/1A

From December 1 the following services will be introduced:

* Carlisle - Anthorn - Wigton (71, 93, 64)

* Whitehaven - Ravenglass / Ravenglass - Millom - Barrow and Whitehaven - St Bees - Egremont (X7, 7 and 32)

* Carlisle - Anthorn (Sunday service) (93Sun)

And routes due to begin on 5 January are:

* Carlisle - Cumberland Infirmary - Cockermouth - Whitehaven - West Cumberland Hospital (600X)

* Whitehaven Town Services (22/22A and 1/1A)

* Carlisle - Hadrian's Wall (HW1)

* Locke Road Surgery & Carleton Clinic (DR1)

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

Cumbria Go bus route to surgery 'really welcome development'