CUMBRIA County Council has held flood recovery meetings with ministers.

The leader of Cumbria County Council, Councillor Stewart Young, leader of the opposition James Airey and council chief executive Diane Wood held meetings with ministers in London yesterday to discuss the funding needed to repair damage caused by December’s floods.

The Cumbria representatives met first with Greg Clark, secretary of state for communities and local government and then with parliamentary under secretary of state for transport Andrew Jones.

The meetings were facilitated by minister for floods and local MP Rory Stewart, who also attended both discussions.

Cllr Young  said: "The council is working hard to assemble a funding package which will enable all the flood damage to be repaired.

"This is a cross-party effort and the council will be contributing as much as it can from its own resources.

"But we will need a substantial contribution from government, on top of what has already been announced.

"The talks yesterday were constructive, are continuing, and we are pushing for an early decision."