ELDERLY residents are due to start moving back into their flats in Windermere after being flooded out during Storm Desmond. 

Eight ground floor flats were flooded at the Birthwaite Sheltered Housing in Windermere during the height of the storm on December 5.

Four tenants had to be evacuated to an emergency reception centre set up by South Lakeland District Council at the Marchesi Centre in Windermere, before being moved to other vacant flats, nearby nursing homes or to stay with family. 

South Lakes Housing has now completed repair works on some of the flats at Birthwaite and the first three tenants are due to move back in on Friday. 

These include 102-year-old Aileen Bostock, who was able to move in with her son in Windermere during the Christmas period and then into a local nursing home until the flats were ready. 

Staff at South Lakes Housing managed to rescue Mrs Bostock’s cherished telegrams from the Queen when her ground-floor flat flooded. 

Another of the returning residents is 90-year-old Emma Willis, who was placed in the guest room at Birthwaite while her flat was repaired. 

John Mansergh, Assistant Director at South Lakes Housing, said: “The flood water started coming in at about 2pm on December 5 and one of our joiners, Dave Harris, was able to get out to isolate the electrics and then worked with a carer to help the tenants. 

“Within half an hour the situation had got a whole lot worse with the lift flooded and five foot deep floodwater flowing through the corridors. 

“A 999 call was made and mountain rescue teams and the fire service helped with the evacuation, with one elderly lady in a wheelchair carried to safety along with three other vulnerable residents.’’ 

The flooding caused £200,000 worth of damage at Birthwaite. 

Mr Mansergh said that 62 of South Lakes Housing’s 3,000 properties across the district were damaged by Storm Desmond flooding.