PEOPLE across Cumbria are being called on to do what they can to protect their homes and business from flooding this winter.

The Environment Agency has launched its Flood Action Week campaign and is urging people to take simple steps to prepare for flooding and protect their most treasured possessions, as research found flood damage could have an even more devastating impact this year.

This includes checking if you live in an area at high risk of flooding, preparing a bag with medication and important documents and moving valuable and sentimental items upstairs or to a safe place.

A combination of these actions, the authority says, can reduce the damage caused by a flood by around 40 per cent.

The campaign is particularly poignant in Cumbria. It comes almost five years since Storm Desmond devastated homes and businesses across the county, affecting a total of 5,610 properties including 2,100 in Carlisle.

The Environment Agency says more than 25 Cumbrian communities have benefitted from flood defences, with work completed at Rickerby and nearing completion at Melbourne Park in Carlisle, meaning 1,200 homes will be better protected this winter.

Construction is continuing on Carlisle's Phase two work and in Egremont and Kendal.

But Stewart Mounsey, Flood Risk Manager for Cumbria, said that while lessons have been learnt from Storm Desmond, more staff have been trained and are better equipped, some homes will remain at risk.

He said: "It is not possible to build defences big enough to protect every home or business, and even with new flood defences in place, people cannot ever be fully protected from flooding.

"This is why it is essential that people know their flood risk and sign up for flood warnings in their area."

Research commissioned for the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Campaign has found that almost half of adults in England place more sentimental value on their homes this year compared to 2019.

Homes have taken on a multitude of new purposes over the past year – from workplaces and classrooms to hair salons and gyms - and have also become the setting for important memories for many people, including milestone birthdays, starting a new job and marriage proposals

The findings also show that one in eight people across England have no idea whether they live in a flood risk area, meaning millions could be caught out.

Visit thefloodhub.co.uk for information on how to make homes and businesses more resilient to flooding.