Allerdale council is still waiting to hear whether it will receive more than £200,000 from the Government to cover costs incurred after last year's floods.

The authority spent more than £300,000 on its response in the wake of the storms that battered the borough in December.

Over £126,000 was spent providing community support.

Of the authority's total floods spending, more than £244,000 is eligible for the Government's Bellwin scheme, which reimburses councils for the cost of responding to disasters and emergencies.

The scheme cover costs surrounding immediate actions to safeguard life and property or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience.

It covers costs incurred by the council up to March 4.

The council must contribute almost £26,000 to these costs, meaning it expects to receive more than £218,000 from the Government.

Councillor Barbara Cannon, executive member responsible for finance, told colleagues at a meeting last night that she hoped the change in Prime Minister and cabinet would not affect the process.

She said: "I hope that they are going to honour the scheme and the promise of the former Prime Minister."

Council staff were at the forefront of work to help flood-hit communities.

Among their efforts they worked at command centres managing the situation, delivered flood sacks and manned reception centres in Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington.

Once the initial emergency phase of work had passed, council staff and contractors worked around the clock to clean up the affected towns and remove flood-damaged goods.

Some 800 tonnes of flood-damaged belongings were taken away in December alone.

Officers manned advice centres in Flimby, Cockermouth and Keswick and went door-to-door in other areas.

The council also incurred almost £56,500 worth of costs that were not eligible for the Bellwin scheme.

Much of that money was spent replacing litter bins that were destroyed or washed away.