Liberal Democrat peer and chairman of the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership Lord Redesdale announced that he was willing to lead a "community-based bid" to acquire Kielder Forest, the largest plantation in England.

BBC: Public forests must not be sold, say advisers

Other areas where payments have been made in the last seven days include Eskdalemuir in the Scottish Borders, Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, Redesdale in North Tyneside, Salsburgh in North Lanarkshire, Shap in Cumbria, and Aboyne in Aberdeenshire.

BBC: Cold weather payments in March hit ?4m, says DWP