INCOME from farming in West Cumbria fell to a record low last year, figures show.

The National Farmers' Union said 2020 was a challenging year for the industry, with farms across England losing over £1 billion in revenue.

Figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show the total income from farming in West Cumbria was estimated to be around £25.6 million in 2020.

This was a real-terms fall of 25 per cent from 2019, when income was £34.1 million, and the lowest figure since comparable records began in 2010.

In the North West, farming income decreased by 23 per cent to £167.6 million last year, making it the sixth-most affected of the seven English regions.

Across England, total income within the agriculture industry fell to £2.6 billion in 2020 – a drop of £1.1 billion when adjusted for inflation.

The NFU said the figures show the "significant disruption" caused by Covid-19.