About 4,300 homes across Cumbria are set to be better protected from floods thanks to £72 million of Government funding.

Plans for projects across the county have been revealed in a report compiled by the Environment Agency and Cumbria Floods Partnership in the wake of December’s floods.

Maryport, Flimby, Keswick and Braithwaite are due to benefit from improvements funded by a shared pot of £4.6million by 2020.

Work at Penrith Road in Keswick is due to be complete by March that year.

Changes are proposed in the way United Utilities operates the Thirlmere reservoir to reduce flood risk.

Rivers and floodplains above Cockermouth and Workington are set to be restored to slow water flow by 2021.

West Cumbria Rivers Trust will lead work to modify the channel at Whit Beck in the Lorton Valley to slow flow by 2017.

A community-led flood and land management pilot project is planned in Braithwaite this summer.

Allerdale council is set to develop long-term resilience options for Cockermouth’s Gote Road.

Work to remove gravel build up from the River Derwent in Workington and Cockermouth is set to be completed by the end of September.

Championed by Floods Minister Rory Stewart, the report says three quarters of the county’s flood defences damaged by Storm Desmond have been repaired, with the remainder set to be complete by the autumn.

Further work will include strengthening defences, improving upstream management of water, improving routine maintenance of flood defences, rivers, bridges and roads, and ensuring people and property are as prepared and resilient as they can be.

The Environment Agency is now focusing on catchment-wide plans to improve water management from its source in the fells to the coast.

The Government has already provided £150 million to support work including road and bridge repairs, removal of gravel and trees from rivers, and provision of tax relief for flood-hit businesses.

Work costing £1.15 million was completed in March at Threlkeld and at Elliott Park, Keswick.

Cumbria Floods Partnership was set up by the Government after December’s floods.

Having worked on the emergency response and recovery, it is now looking to prepare Cumbria for future flooding.

Mr Stewart said: “The floods in Cumbria were truly terrible.

“We owe an enormous thanks to Cumbrian communities for their resilience through this terrible period.

“I would like to add my thanks to all the partners who have worked so hard and so patiently with the Environment Agency to bring these plans together, which will be vital over the coming years for our businesses, for our homes and our families.”

The publication of the report comes as the Environment Agency and Cumbria County Council host public forums in flood-hit communities across the county.

The events allow residents and business owners to discuss draft a flood investigation report for their area and make suggestions and comments before each report is finalised and actions agreed.

The next event is due to take place at the Yew Tree Hall, High Lorton, on Thursday from 5pm to 9pm.