Environment minister Rory Stewart reopened the A591 in Cumbria this week, three weeks ahead of schedule.

The road had been victim to severe storm damage during the winter last year, but repairs to the carriageway will now ensure that the Lake District can be open for business this summer.

Working together, Highways England and Cumbria County Council repaired a four-mile stretch of the A591, which links Grasmere to Keswick.

Luckily, the project was completed three weeks ahead of schedule meaning that holidaymakers will be able to use the road during the half-term Bank Holiday this month.

This was necessary work that had to be undertaken by the government, as the Lake District and Cumbria receive a huge amount of tourists each year. In 2014 alone, Cumbria received 41.5 million visits that were worth £2.4 billion to the region.

Rory Stewart, floods minister, said: "I am absolutely delighted to be able to open this road on behalf of the government. We took this project - unusually - because of the extreme flood damage."