Eleven zones have been proposed across the UK to help food and farming companies grow and attract new businesses to the sector.

Grants of up to £50,000 will be available to set up FEZs, based around Local Development Orders.

It is hoped that local communities will benefit from new jobs and the opportunity to develop local produce, boosting their economies.

For the North West, Cheshire and Cumbria have been earmarked for FEZs.

In Cumbria, the funding is intended to help develop sites in Penrith, Alson, Appleby and Kirby Stephen – building on an established food sector that already includes the likes of Eden Brewery, Penrith Toffee and Lakes Free Range Eggs.

In Cheshire, meanwhile, funding will be allocated to sites within the Reaseheath College estate to help businesses throughout the food chain to access new resources to grow and increase employment opportunities.

Environment secretary Elizabeth Truss said: "Food Enterprise Zones will help unlock the potential of local food and farming businesses, boosting local economies and attracting more investment.

"These zones will ensure we can grow more top quality produce and expand our food industry, which is worth more than £100bn a year to the UK economy – more than cars and aerospace combined."