The summer holidays are here!

The fantasy: Everything is packed.Nothing let behind and, within hours you and your family are sunning yourself on a beautiful beach without a worry in the world.

The reality: Flights are being cancelled, four-mile queues for ferries, and with all the rail disruptions that would not be a carefree option either!

Instead of facing all that frustration, it might be better to have a staycation and not venture too far from home.

That does not mean your children need to miss out, as these photos from our archives show - and once the children are in bed, you can stick a parasol into an evening drink and pretend you are somewhere else.

Whitehaven, in the past, has had lots happening in the summer holiday’s. and there is bound to be programmes for children again.

We cannot always promise a Prime Minister, though.

Tony Blair is pictured here having a look around the West Lakes science Park which he officially opened,.

But straight after that, he was joining his wife Cherie and their family for a holiday in “an undisclosed” location.

You would imagine that school staff are quite happy to close and lock the doors the minute the summer holidays are on them.

But St Gregory and St Patrick’s seem to stay open for the good of their community with lots of activities during the summer holidays.

Libraries throughout Cumbria encourage reading with various summer actives and story telling.

Also check out the Beacon and Florence Art Centre,where there is usually fun for most ages to be found.

And summer holidays can red during the summer holidays he would go to the bowling green with his grandfather.

Get your children taking up a sport this summer - and maybe sometime in the future you could travel first class to any resort in the world. Caution: Get them involved in a game that pays big bucks, such as tennis, golf.or football!

Check out our weekly feature: "10 things to do....." That might give you inspiration. Whatever happens - enjoy yourselves.