SEVERAL suicides and attempted suicides have prompted a town council to look at what action it can take to help.

Maryport's Mayor Peter Kendall said he watched a candlelight vigil in the town's Memorial Gardens recently attended by between 30 and 40 people who had all lost loved ones.

"I would like to ask this group to come to a meeting and tell us how we can help them."

He said mental health is a huge and growing problem and the council should do something to help.

Cllr Linda Radcliffe said: "There are many, many groups working with people with mental health problems in Maryport. It is such a wide area with so many organisations needing funding."

Cllr Chris Slater suggested looking at a way to bring all the organaisations together.

Cllr Radcliffe said the county council had recently held mental health day bringing together more than 30 organisations working in this field.

Town clerk Paul Bramley warned the council to be cautious: "I certainly don't have the qualifications to hold such a meeting," he said.

He suggested that the council write to the county council to see if there will be any more mental health days and offer help where needed.