The formation of an economic partnership covering Morecambe Bay continues to gather momentum after three council leaders met to forge closer links.

Councillor Dave Pidduck of Barrow Borough Council, Cllr Giles Archibald of South Lakeland District Council and Cllr Eileen Blamire of Lancaster City Council met to thrash out a plan which could be put to the Government for financial backing to boost the economy around the bay.

The three councils, backed by local high-profile businesses including Oxley Group, have already produced a glossy prospectus outlining the economic and academic assets of the region titled ‘Lancaster and South Cumbria Economic Region’.

A summit to discuss a way forward is set to take place in June, although it is unknown if it will result in a Growth Deal bid to the Government, similar to that in the north of the county in the shape of The Borderlands.

The push, led by local politicians, has been given a stamp of approval at the highest levels after former chancellor, now chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, George Osborne, included devolution a deal for Lancaster and south Cumbria as one of 10 recommendations to the Government to boost economic growth in the North.

Cllr Pidduck said: “The three councils have been working to use their shared resources to show the country what we have to offer.

“It came about at the will for economic development. It will mean we can strengthen businesses.”

Stuart Klosinski, of the Furness Economic Development Forum, also spoke of his support for a plan that will look to build on the region’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, energy, tourism, health and education has home to one of the UK’s best academic institutions, Lancaster University.

“It will deepen the labour market to people living and working around the Bay and it is something to get behind,” he said.

The three councils have been given strong encouragement to work up the plan, with Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth Minister Jake Berry praising their work and asking to see more detail on the way forward.

It has also received the backing of Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, and Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale.