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Anniversary of flood chaos in Border region

On 3 December 2015, parts of west Cumbria including Flimby and Maryport suffered severe flooding.

It was the start of four days of chaos, and heroism, in the Border region, as thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed by Storm Desmond.

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Glenridding chosen for new flood defence scheme

Glenridding in December. Credit: PA

Glenridding has been chosen by the Environment Agency for a new flood defence pilot scheme.

The village, which was flooded four times last winter, was selected along with three other villages in Cumbria.

The Community Action Pilot scheme focuses on making communities more resilient to floods and improving flood measures for the future.

Sharing and informing is a critical part of the scheme because all of us in Cumbria are going to need to manage flood risk for a continual basis into the future.

– Jim Ratcliffe, Environment Agency

WATCH: Top tips from flood expert

Are you worried about your home or business flooding?

We asked Mary Dhonau, who set up Know Your Flood Risk after she was flooded herself on many occasions, for her top tips on keeping your property safe.

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Carlisle church reopens a year since it was destroyed

Credit: ITV Border

A Carlisle church wrecked by the floods has re-opened it's doors for the first time, a year to the day since it was destroyed.

A carol service was held at St Aidans Church on Warwick Road last night to give thanks for all the support given by the community and to remember those facing up to their second Christmas out of their homes.

Last night was very much saying 'we're here' and what we've got between now and Christmas is the local schools, Norman Street Primary, Richard Rose Academy, coming in for carol services."

– Rev Keith Teasdale, St Aidan's Church

Flood Action Group claim Workington has been neglected

Credit: ITV Border

Workington's Flood Action Group is calling for improved defences and claims the town has been neglected.

Members of the group say other places in Allerdale including Keswick and Cockermouth, have been prioritised but that more needs to be done to protect the Hall Park View area of Workington.

I know that they feel very frustrated. They feel that Cockermouth and Keswick and other areas have had much more attention than they have, and yet they've flooded over and over again."

– Sue Hayman MP Workington, Labour

Cumbria floods: Where are we at?

This time last year, everybody who wanted to journey through or around Cumbria found that railway lines were closed, roads were unpassable and bridges simply washed away.

The disruption has led some people to call it the worst peacetime disaster ever to hit the UK's road and rail network.

Matthew Taylor has been assessing the ongoing impact to our infrastructure:

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WATCH: A year away from home

One year ago, more than 5,300 across Cumbria were flooded.

Around 700 households still aren't able to move back home, and in Carlisle more than 400 homes are still empty.

Hannah McNulty has been to meet some of the people who are marking 'a year away from home':

WATCH: Unseen footage of flooding as it hit Kendal

There were more homes and businesses damaged in Kendal in last winters storms, than in any other Cumbrian town.

Watch some unseen footage of the flooding as it tore through the town:

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