A TOWN ravaged by floods is recovering one year on.

Millom was hit by advancing water following heavy rain a year ago this week, forcing families from their homes.

Pictures show a town which has moved on from the floods after water damaged houses and left roads impassable.

A major clean-up took place in the days after, with more than 200 homes affected by the floodwater.

Joan Newton’s house in Mainsgate Road was one of the properties worst affected by the floods.

She said she faced floodwater from three directions and said “everything” was lost in her home.

Mrs Newton said: “The flooding absolutely devastated the town. It had a huge impact on a lot of people.

“My house was very badly affected by all the water that came in.

“We tried to move furniture and appliances out of our home but we lost everything.”

She said insurers would not pay out due to her home being in an area that was already at risk of flooding.

“Me and my husband have both had to go back to work following our retirement to able to afford to refurnish our home,” she said.

Water from the floods covered her garden and seeped inside her house, destroying floorboards.

But a year later her home has been revamped with new furniture and flooring.

Cumbria County Council hopes lessons can be learned from the floods.

A report into the flooding by the authority published in June concluded the flooding was caused by heavy rain and said the local pumping was not at its best.

The report said: “During the investigation and discussions with many of the residents it was sometimes commented that the pumps at the pumping station on King Street may not have been working.

“United Utilities have provided information that demonstrates the pumps were working to their full capacity.”

The report confirmed gullies in the town were given their annual clean by Cumbria County Council in July. They were checked and cleaned again afterwards

Information gathered from United Utilities, Copeland Borough Council, the Environment Agency and the Highway Authority.