Published at 19:54, Monday, 23 November 2009

COCKERMOUTH firm James Walker has donated £100,000 to the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund.

The seals and gaskets maker, on Gote Road, has brought the total up to £260,000.

Deb Muscat, an acting director of Cumbria Community Foundation, which is managing the fund, said: “I was nearly in tears on the phone when I found out. It's absolutely fantastic news. We can't thank them enough.”

Donations poured in to the fund and more than £140,000 was raised in less than 48 hours.

Applications can also be made for financial help from the fund.

The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund, launched by Workington MP Tony Cunningham and the Cumbria Community Foundation on Friday, has received pledges of £142,000.

They include £25,000 from Allerdale council, £50,000 from Cumbria County Council and £50,000 from Nuclear Management Partners, a donation which kick-started the fund-raising efforts.

Allerdale council leader Tim Heslop said: “We are committed to working together with all agencies on the massive recovery effort that we face in getting the county back on to its feet.

“As well as getting people back into their homes, the future of many small businesses and how we can help to ensure their survival is one of our top priorities.

“We also express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who is working tremendously hard to help others in these exceptionally difficult circumstances – especially those who are coming to terms with their own loss.”

The trustees of the Cumbria Community Foundation, based at Dovenby, have also pledged £15,000 to the fund.

The Cumberland Building Society and Furness Building Society branches across Cumbria will accept donations. Cleator Moor Co-op also has collection buckets.

Ms Muscat said: “It is the most fantastic thing. The first time around in 2005 we had to go out there and tell people about our fund but with the internet and such things people are passing word on.”

The foundation said the first phase of grant making would concentrate on the elderly, people with disabilities and families with children aged under five.

The Rotary Clubs of Cockermouth and Keswick were among the first to launch a fund for flood victims.

Visit here  to donate.

Credit and debit card donations can be made through Paypal.

Cheques can be sent to Rotary Clubs of Cockermouth & Keswick Flood Appeal, 26, Briar Rigg, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4NN.

They should be made to The Rotary Club of Keswick.

To donate to the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund:

ONLINE here

By CHEQUE – payable to Cumbria Community Foundation; Flood, CCF, Dovenby Hall, Cockermouth, CA13 0PN

By PHONE – 01900 820827

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk