A volunteer group set up to navigate Cumbria through the crisis left by Storm Desmond is on the cusp of going global.

The work done by the Eden Flood Volunteers to support communities affected by the floods in December has impressed people across the county - and has now caught international attention.

Talks are already underway and if successful the model set up by the group could be rolled out in places like the Philippines, Pakistan, India and Uganda, which have regular flood problems.

Kerryanne Wilde, the charity's chief executive, told The Cumberland News : "It's about using the model set up here in Cumbria and taking it to those countries, making sure they have flood resilience plans in place.

"We would be helping to set them up and create links between businesses and other organisations.

"These are countries that have horrendous floods and other disasters."

The group's branching out comes as Cumbria County Council announced it has handed contracts worth £25m to firms to carry out essential repairs to flood-hit roads and bridges.

The cash will be used to repair more than 350 roads and bridges over this financial year.

The link between some of the world's worst-affected flood zones and the Cumbrian group has been brought about through a new trustee, David Wilson, who runs networking business Avradel Ltd.

Mr Wilson has various links to those countries and is currently speaking with contacts abroad.

Kerryanne added: "It will happen but we are in the very early stages of discussions.

"We don't have the funds, we are a volunteers group, to just jump on a plane and go over there.

"It's how we do this in a cost effective manner.

"We can take our model anywhere."

The model developed by Kerryanne and her team essentially sees one group set up to act as a central hub for coordinating flood recovery, linking councils, emergency services and charities with other organisations.

The group is based at the former civil engineering lab at Skirsgill, on the outskirts of Penrith, but serves the whole of the county and has worked with communities outside of Cumbria as well.

In the aftermath of Storm Desmond volunteers established a network of donors of much-needed supplies for flood victims.

More than £1.2m-worth of donated goods, including food, furniture and cleaning materials, have been dispatched around the county from Penrith.

Meanwhile, the council repairs contracts have been awarded to four main companies: Flimby-based Thomas Armstrong’s, Workington's Jacobs Stobbart’s, AE Yates and Coffey.

Keith Little, council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "I am delighted that we have not only secured the funding for these repairs but now awarded the first phase of contracts for essential repairs to our infrastructure following the floods.

"Importantly, I am equally delighted that Cumbrian-based firms have been successful in securing this important work.

"I appreciate that for many the floods may seem some time ago.

"But I can assure that many people, communities and organisations are still dealing with the impact.

"The council remains committed to the county’s full recovery and as such these contracts are the next essential step towards us completing a full programme of repair and recovery work on behalf of our communities."