People could be jetting off from Southend to the Lake District in just a few months, it has been announced.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill revealed in Parliament that the new Carlisle to Southend route, which will be funded by the Government, will start up in the spring.

The twice-daily route, which will open up the likes of the Lake District, Scottish Borders, and Newcastle to holidaymakers in Essex, will be funded by Whitehall for the first three years.

Southend Airport did not confirm a start date, but Stobart Air, which owns both Southend and Carlisle airports previously told the Echo it wanted the service up and running by April.

In a Commons debate on airport expansion, aviation minister Mr Goodwill said: “The Chancellor announced in November that 11 new air routes from smaller UK airports would be supported, with about £7 million of start-up aid over the next three financial years.

“Those routes—two of which are from Norwich airport and one from Southend airport—will begin operating from this spring, and they will provide domestic links between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as international connectivity to France, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland.”

Stobart Air is investing some £12million into modernising Carlisle Airport.

The flights from Cumbria to Essex will be timed to allow visitors to spend the day in either Southend, London, or the surrounding area.

The successful bid came from Stobart Air’s Carlisle team.

After three years, the airline will take over funding for the route, as the Government will no longer subsidise it.

Glyn Jones, chief executive of Stobart Aviation, would not expand on the Parliamentary announcement.

He said: "We welcome the Government’s desire to retain investment in regional air connectivity at a time of downward pressure on spending. We are examining the detail of that investment with regard to operations at London Southend Airport and considering our next steps.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said a start date was up to the airline.