One of the first events has been announced to mark the anniversary of last December's disastrous flood.

Villagers in Crosby-on-Eden, near Carlisle, which was deluged with water, are planning a day to remember Storm Desmond on December 5 in their parish hall.

Organiser Sue Fox said: "We will be remembering and celebrating all the acts of kindness, concern and help given by individuals and groups."

Cumbria Community Foundation has given a grant of nearly £900 to cover the cost of the event.

The day will include morning coffee, soup and a roll at lunchtime and an afternoon tea.

There will be a bring-and-buy stall and a bunting-making corner, complete with sewing machines and material.

After school, a Christmas tree in the centre of the village will be lit up as so many were ruined last year.

A photographic display of the flood and its effects is also planned, together with some of the children’s work.

Mrs Fox said: "We are only just back in our house and some of our friends and neighbours are still out.

"The event is being held in the parish hall as that has been completely renovated and restored. It's lovely.

"We have invited groups that use the parish hall to submit some photographs about what they do - like the judo and gardening club and we thought we could do a little display.

"We are also going to have a memory board so people can write one sentence about their memories of December 5."

Mrs Fox, who wrote the book Katie and the Flood earlier this year - which is about a little girl experiencing flooding - has another book going to the printers today.

Joe and Storm Desmond is about a boy whose house is flooding.

Mrs Fox, who wrote two other books called Joe and the Window and Joe and the Camera, said: "Basically the book is what happened to me, translated into the boy.

"In 2005 a lady in the village who didn't want to leave her home in Crosby was put in a wheelie bin to get her out.

"That happens to Joe in the book so it's based on a true story.

"Joe is a bit older than he was in the last two books."

The book will be back from the printers in the next week and will be available from Bookends and other outlets.

Mrs Fox, 71, said: "We distributed free copies of Katie and the Flood to local primary school children and we hope to do the same with this one.

"We are printing 1,000 copies."

Anyone who has any photographs of last year's flood can send them to michaelfox11@btinternet.com as part of the exhibition.