A NEW cut-price rail ticket for use throughout Cumbria and the Lake District was launched on Friday by a real-life Lakeland terrier.

The pet pooch won a prized competition by Cumbria Tourist Board to become the icon for Railrover a discounted travel ticket which aims to encourage rail journeys around the county and the North West.

Last month, CTB issued an urgent appeal for people to get in touch if they thought their Lakeland terrier could be the face of the publicity drive.

More than 100 offers of help came in from Carlisle, Kendal, Barrow, Workington, Penrith and as far north as Newcastle, and as far south as Preston.

After a difficult choice, judges decided that four-year-old Jasper, a Lakeland terrier belonging to Graham and Christine Morley, of Skelton, near Penrith, was perfect to play the part.

Mr Morley said: "We are obviously pleased Jasper was chosen and that we could help. When we saw the appeal it was the fact that Jasper has got that feel-good factor about him. People come up to him and stroke him all the time and everyone smiles when they see him."

Of the launch, Mr Morley said: "The Cumbria the Lake District Railrover ticket is obviously a good idea for the region and it's another string to the county's bow. It allows people to visit the peripheries of the Lake District as well where there are lots of things to be seen and enjoyed, and it also gets people out of their cars."

As a special thank you, Jasper recieved a VIP dog bowl and treats, while Mr and Mrs Morley enjoyed a special lunch at the Lakes Court Hotel, Carlisle.

Marie Whitehead, a market development officer with Cumbria Tourist Board, said: "We were overwhelmed by the response to find a soutable Rover and we were delighted to receive so many inquiries. It was a really difficult decision to choose one because there were so many wonderful dogs.

"We decided on Jasper because not only is he friendly, adorable and doesn't mind travelling by train, he also perfectly suits the image we had of Rover in the graphic designed to promote the Railrover ticket."

n The Railrover ticket allows the choice of either three or seven days unlimited train travel throughout Cumbria and parts of the North West. A single seven day adult ticket (not including discounts for rail cards) would cost £52.50 and a three day ticket, £32.50. Routes include the Furness line, the Settle to Carlisle Railway, the Western Lake District and the Eden Valley. The ticket's launch follows talks between a number of organisations along with service operators Virgin, First North Western and Arriva.