A floods campaigner and farmer has written and illustrated a little book about flooding and its effects.

Paul Barnes, of Braithwaite, has produced The Flood Man, which is for sale in Cockermouth. All proceeds will go to the Flood Farmers' Group.

The book is dedicated to "Big Alistair", in memory of farmer Alistair Birkett, of Threlkeld, who died two years ago, aged 46.

Alistair and Paul were great friends and, having both been hit hard by flooding, decided to set up the action group for county farmers.

Paul, whose home and farm was flooded, said: "The book is a very condensed way to highlight the issues around what's happened since Storm Desmond.

"It's my way of having a laugh at a difficult situation.

"It's pointed at flood authority officialdom. I think it's an amusing way to get the message across without being nasty.

"It's also been quite cathartic writing and illustrating it."

He did most of the illustrations, Keswick artist Paul Wilmott did four of the pictures.

"While we want to forget about the trauma of the floods it's important that we do not take our eyes off the ineffectiveness of the government's response to all sorts of trauma," said Paul.

Paul is involved with the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and the Cumbria Strategic Flood Partnership. He founded and is vice chairman of the Cumbria Rivers Authority Group and was among a group of flood campaigners that visited Westminster last year to meet politicians.

He first thought about writing his book a year ago.

"I've written another one which is even funnier - Cedric the Flood Guru. I've not had time to do the pictures yet thought as I've been busy with the cows calving," said Paul.

Paul's book costs £4 and is for sale in The New Bookshop, Cockermouth.