A flood-hit supermarket has been the go-ahead to bolster its defences against further disaster.

Proposals to install new defences around the Sainsbury's store in Caldewgate, Carlisle, have been approved by councillors despite concerns from nearby residents.

The supermarket suffered extensive damage during the floods of Storm Desmond in December 2015 when was closed for a few weeks.

Sainsbury's submitted a planning application to Carlisle City Council to build external flood defences of stone, glass and cladding around the perimeter of the shop. The shop entrance's defences are temporary.

The planning application received 13 levels of objection and one of comment which argued the Sainsbury's defences would increase flooding in other nearby businesses and houses. These concerns were heightened because a defence has already been built around McVitie's.

One Wigton Road resident wrote: "If they are allowed to block off this area, there will be more flood damage to residents housing, especially since Carr's have already taken measures to prevent their site flooding.

"I would like to point out that Sainsbury's opened within a month of flooding, but some residents are still not back in their homes even now."

City council development manager Chris Hardman told councillors at yesterday's development control committee meeting that hydrologists estimated water levels would have been 14mm higher if Storm Desmond happened again with Sainsbury's flood defences in place.

However it was unclear how widespread the rise would be. Mr Hardman told councillors environmental consultancy RSK was working with the Environment Agency (EA) to find out what impact the flood defences would have on surrounding properties.

Councillors granted planning permission on the condition that they receive a 'satisfactory response' from the EA. The expected detail of that response was not outlined.