The picturesque hamlet of Southwaite Mill was engulfed with water over the weekend.

Gail Robins, 50, and her husband Chris, 64, run the Robinsbrook Country Guest House, where they live with their dalmatian Luther.

Last December marked the end of 14 months of restoration work on the Georgian house, near Eaglesfield, which was hit in the 2009 floods, but just one year later the couple are left counting the cost as it was struck yet again by the force of nature.

Knowing the building's flood history, the couple laid no carpets downstairs when they renovated the house.

A team of people from King's Church in Cockermouth helped the couple begin the mammoth clean-up.

The couple wore silly hats this week to keep spirits high and a crackling fire and smiles on their faces showed they were determined to get on with it.

Gail said: "We started moving stuff upstairs at 11am on Saturday because we could see water was coming.

"We brought inside our garden furniture and then lifted our sofas and chairs on top of it.

"We came downstairs for the last three chairs and the water was calf-deep.

"The water came through the floor even though it's concrete and tanked.

"I hear people are mad with the Government and Environment Agency but when we were marooned and we saw the force of water, I just don't know how man could stop that.

"It was very scary because you knew there was nothing you could do.

"We saw a car float away and it was very distressing.

"The guy came back on Monday and his car had gone but he'd somehow managed to get out."

Chris added: "We did have two rooms booked, but fortunately they were guests who have family here so they stayed with them in the end.

Becca, 51 and John Simmons, 69, bought Southwaite Mill Cottages after the 2009 floods and have been fixing them up ever since.

One of the five properties was only finished last week before water ravaged the area, but on her birthday on Tuesday, Becca said she was just happy to be surrounded by family and friends.

John said: "Sadly it looks like as a community we're beginning to learn how to deal with this.

"We were twitchy but we knew from last time that the buildings were sound and that they would survive.

"We just stayed upstairs and rode it out.

"Now it's a case of clean up and carry on."