THE sun beamed down on a Cumbrian community as residents pulled together to pick up the pieces following Monday’s floods.

Friends and neighbours rallied round as the big clean-up commenced after floods devastated homes and belongings in Bootle earlier this week.

With the floodwater subsiding and the summer sun drying out the muddy streets, everything appeared to be back to normal in the village - but some people have been hit badly by the torrential rain.

Deborah Collinson had just started renovating her property in Mill Street when water flooded through.

She said: “There was just nothing I could do. Once it was in, it was in. I was just resigned.

“It’s never flooded this side of the bridge before. I’ve owned this property for 16 years and I’ve just started doing it up.

“This is the first time it’s flooded and it’s just at the same time as I put a new front door on.

“I’ve only had it two weeks. I’ve just put in brand new flooring but all that has had to be ripped up.

"I had some books from my dad that were damaged but I shouldn't have had them boxed up really.

"It could have all been a lot worse."

Members of the community say they feel proud and lucky to be living in such a generous community.

Trudy Harrison, of Bootle Station, said: "The main feeling today is just about what an amazing community we're in. People are out and about offering to help in whatever way they can - particularly on Monday when high tide hit. People were helping others move their furniture and pull carpets up.

"It feels like we're in a developing country this morning but it's the community spirit that's keeping us going.

"It's just fantastic community spirit."

Despite this sense of hope, Mrs Harrison says spirits might not be so high in the coming weeks as the true cost of the damage is revealed.

Along with many other residents in the village, Mrs Harrison believes now is the time to act to limit any further destruction in the future.

She said: "It's important that we act now for the future. We can't prevent things like this happening but we can try to limit some of its effects and we have to be connected to the outside world."

Read this man's heroic story involving Monday's floods

Good Samaritan is hailed as a hero as devastating floods hit Cumbria once again

Read more about the recent floods:

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/millom/Flash-floods-cause-chaos-in-South-Cumbria-as-river-levels-remain-high-ab63a06e-8bbf-4a3e-ab4b-dfeb74f40966-ds

Mayor says flood victims are not alone

VILLAGERS are facing a massive clean-up operation after homes and properties were flooded on Monday.

After hearing about the devastation, elected mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie headed to Bootle yesterday morning to meet those who were affected by the floods.


As he made his way round the village, Mr Starkie discovered the true extent of the damage and how it had effected the day-to-day lives of ordinary people.

He said: “It’s just heart-breaking to speak to the individuals who were affected. It just brings home exactly how devastating this is. The emotional impact it’s had is the same whether it was one person or 100."

Tales were told of neighbours banding together to help each other and prevent the floodwater from entering as many homes as possible.

Residents spoke of frustration at their inability to easily access materials such as sandbags or get any phone signal or internet to communicate with the outside world.

In times of crisis, residents in small rural communities can be easily cut off and Mr Starkie is determined to show them that they are not alone.

He said: “It seems that in small, rural communities there’s this feeling that they’re being left to get on with it themselves but I’m here to make sure that they are not just left to get on with it.”