Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire will share the largest area of almost continuous National Park land following the decision to extend two of England’s most celebrated National Parks, which will ‘virtually join up’ the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District.

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Responding to the announcement, Fiona Howie, Campaign for National Parks Chief Executive, said, “This is absolutely fantastic news. Very simply, these are beautiful, inspiring and important areas of the countryside that always deserved to be part of our National Parks.

“They were originally excluded because of administrative reasons but now, after years of hard work by a lot of people, this is now going to be put right.”

Ms Truss made the decision after taking into account the recommendations put forward by the Planning Inspector in October 2013 following a public inquiry.