Expert advice on protecting homes from extreme weather is being offered to residents living in flood-risk areas of Carlisle and Eden.

More than 6,000 homes and businesses were devastated as Storm Desmond swept across the county in December of last year, along with dozens of bridges and roads as nearly 12 inches of rain fell in 24 hours.

The effects of the disaster are still being felt, with around one in five of those forced out their homes still not back.

But fresh hope is being offered to those living in the affected areas of Carlisle and Penrith thanks to the efforts of the Penrith-based charity Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CafS).

It is now offering free personalised advice to residents who are keen to reduce the impact of flooding and extreme rainfall on their home. They are also helping people achieve better home energy efficiency.

Emma Greenshaw, from CafS, said: “Some materials like plasterboard and gypsum plaster, for example, have to be removed and replaced if they are soaked during flooding, whereas alternatives like lime plaster can simply be cleaned and allowed to dry out

“Similarly, many of the materials and well-intentioned repairs such as cement or modern paints often lead to longer-term problems of cold and damp in the older, traditional properties that are typical locally.

“Taking simple steps to protect buildings from water not only helps reduce energy use but can help people get back into their homes more quickly after flooding, reducing the stress and cost as well.”

Emma said anyone considering home renovations for other reasons should take the opportunity to make their house more resilient to extreme weather.

She said: “It’s the perfect time to install improvements that reduce the energy used to heat the home, too, which not only cuts energy bills but also helps tackle climate change, one of the root causes of the extreme weather we’re increasingly seeing.”

The Carlisle drop-in is part of a Flood Awareness Community Forum event at Greystone Community Centre on Tuesday October 25, with the Penrith event on Thursday October 27, from 4pm to 7pm at the library.