The Environment Agency (EA) has revealed a £10 million repair programme for damaged flood defences in Cumbria.

Over 3,000 flood defences have been inspected and 100 repair projects identified after storms hit most parts of the UK throughout December.

Around 6,300 homes, businesses and farms were flooded as a result of the extreme weather in Cumbria.

Recovery work has now passed the 100-day mark, with EA teams so far carrying out repairs at Appleby and removing 30,000 tonnes of gravel washed downstream in Kendal, Keswick and Glenridding.


Kath Tanner, Flood Recovery Manager at the EA, said: "This winter's flooding has had a devastating effect on people in Cumbria and the Environment Agency is doing everything possible to restore protection to communities with a repair programme underway worth around £10 million.

"As well as carrying out emergency repairs, inspecting defences and clearing thousands of tonnes of gravel from rivers, we have also been visiting communities to hear from those people affected. We want to tap into local knowledge and give local people a chance to shape our plans for the future to ensure we have the best possible plans in place to reduce the risk of flooding."

(LM/CD)