Another step is being taken in Cumbria's fightback from the floods.

Rangers from the Lake District National Park are working to repair a popular woodland walk washed away by Storm Desmond.

An estimated £8.5m of damage was caused to routes across the park when devastation struck in December 2015.

A massive clear-up operation is underway to ensure all routes can be reopened to the public.

The latest phase of that scheme centres on walk near the iconic Sharrow Bay Hotel, on the shores of Ullswater.

It is hoped that the damage repair and clearance work will help boost business in the area.

Ged Acton, who's leading the Routes to Resilience project for the national park authority, said: "It is really important that we restore the routes around the Lake District to allow access both for the community and the 17 million visitors that come to the area each year."

The wider flood recovery programme, funded by the Rural Payments Agency, is working to reinstate 64 bridges, along with surfacing and drainage works on 100 paths and replacing 56 items of access such as stiles and gates. It is hoped that work will be done before September 2018.

As well as improving access, the work is designed to increase resilience so that any future floods are not as damaging to the rights of way network - or the national park's economy.

Thirty jobs have been completed as part of the programme, from major path works in Grasmere to resurfacing Helton Bridleway in the east, and restoring footpaths along the western shores of Derwentwater.

The scheme has also been supported by businesses in the areas affected.

Heather James, marketing manager at Sharrow Bay, said: "The work being carried out by the Routes to Resilience team is hugely important for us and our guests, who love to take the path to Ullswater Way.

"The woodland walk is a fantastic asset for the hotel and we’re thrilled to see the necessary restoration being carried out.”