A flood-ravaged town is smiling again after a street party raised almost £323,000 to help get it back on its feet.

The Northbound Festival in Cockermouth on August 6 saw around 7,500 flocking to Main Street for a host of activities.

Two music stages, food stalls, street theatre and children's amusements took over the street just months after it was battered by Storm Desmond in December.

The event was made possible by a partnership between cnevents and Allerdale council with financial assistance from the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Flood Fund.

Allerdale council said this week that independent research carried out by Red Research, of Kendal, on the day showed that 78 per cent of people travelled to Cockermouth specifically for the festival.

Nine in 10 people said they would come to another, similar event in the future and would recommend it to others.

The average spend per person at the event was £22.23, with 69 per cent of people saying they would also go for a meal or a drink, and 13 per cent would go shopping on the day, which in turn generated additional spend in the town.

Councillor Mark Fryer, Allerdale council’s executive member with responsibility for economic development, said: “It was important for the local community to bring people back into Cockermouth following the floods and show that it is open for business.

“The town has seen great benefit to its economy by bringing the festival into Main Street, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the businesses in the town while enjoying the event.”

Members of Maryport Inshore Rescue, who helped rescue people during Storm Desmond, were at the event to tell people about their work.

The Carnegie Trust, which runs the Carnegie Theatre in Workington, also had a stand so it could promote its theatre programme and its work.

Twelve acts took to the stages, including acoustic artists Gary Jackson, Luke Matear, Antony Lister, Dan Mason, Connell Vandepeear and Harrison.

The main stage was opened by the Jack Duster Band, followed by My Little Brother, Crowdog, Mojo Rising, Dansi, Colt 45 and headliners Matt Wilde and Young Rebel Set.

After-show parties were held at several pubs in the town when the festival wound down at around 9pm.