A "TRAIL-BLAZING" package of measures with the potential to transform the region's rural economy has taken a step closer to reality.

The Government-endorsed Rural Action Zone, a radical five-year programme designed to regenerate and modernise rural Cumbria in the wake of foot-and-mouth, was first drafted in October last year.

Cumbria County Council has now approved the 'next steps' strategy, which lays out the RAZ's objectives for 2002-2007.

Costing up to £264m to implement, the RAZ lays out a vision for the regeneration of the economy and environment as well as local communities.

The 'next steps' phase of the scheme's development subjects the proposals to a "reality check" by:

l Ensuring consistency with regional strategies.

l Defining selection criteria for projects seeking RAZ support.

l Laying out a proposal for a rural regeneration company to deliver the scheme.

Council leader Rex Toft welcomed the latest developments.

"This is a very exciting scheme.

It is blazing a trail in national and European terms for the Rural Economy.

It is hugely important for Cumbria." He added: "We are keen to get the Rural Action Zone proposals moving as quickly as possible and the 'next steps' strategy will help us achieve that."

The document will now go for consultation with partner organisations and will be passed to the Cumbria Strategic Partnership for comment on April 23.

The 'next steps' scheme will then go to the North West Development Agency for approval.