CUMBRIA'S most revered elder statesman on rural affairs has announced he is to wind down from local front line activity.

John Dunning revealed his plans to retire at Lowther Show after 20 years as founder chairman of Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency (CREA).

Considered by many as the quiet man of rural politics', John Dunning is peerless in his knowledge on the strengths and weaknesses of Cumbria's rural economy.

He is a well-known face in the county's business world, through his work as a director of Westmorland Motorway Services, which runs service stations and the Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith.

It was largely his vision and leadership back in 1984 that prompted the setting up of a small group to established CREA, which included Sir Charles Graham, Lord Rochdale, Spencer Crookenden, Nigel Clarkson-Webb and James Cropper.

The new agency was launched shortly after from free office space at K Shoes in Lound Road, Kendal, and has grown since to become the major rural economic regeneration force in Cumbria with an annual turnover of £1.8M, directly employing some 90 full and part-time staff.

CREA, which now has offices in Penrith as well as Kendal, assisted more than 5,000 rural businesses in Cumbria last year alone.

Executive director Bob Clark, holds his out-going chairman in the highest possible esteem. He said: "We cannot overestimate the innovation, leadership and enterprise John has brought to rural Cumbria over the last 20 years.

"Before Cumbria's 2001 foot-and-mouth epidemic, our rural areas had as little as £1 million of annual financial support coming in. Largely due to the driving force of John Dunning, we have been experiencing nearer £20 million each year since FMD, and over the next three years the NWDA has committed a projected £40 million a year in financial assistance for our county."