Town centre pavements in Cockermouth laid following flood defence work became dangerously slippy this week and resulted in many people falling.

Highways workers were due to finish cleaning the Main Street pavements tomorrow morning.

Rebecca Hanson, who has just been elected to the town council, said: "The combination of tree sap and rain has made it like black ice in parts. I was speaking to various shopkeepers who said they had seen people slipping."

She made notices to warn pedestrians.

Karen Beattie, 41, of Branthwaite, fell on Tuesday.

She said she was trying to avoid a puddle at the pelican crossing in front of Oasis sandwich shop when she slipped near a tree.

She said: "My legs went and I came down so hard on the paving stones. A trip to A&E confirmed no breaks but severe bruising.

"My existing back condition has been really exacerbated, it has knocked me back so much that walking and driving is painful now.

"The pavement is very dangerous, especially to the elderly."

Highways workers pressure hosed a section outside The Toy Shop this morning, two other sections were cordoned off and safety notices put up until work could be completed.

Toy shop owner Jonty Chippendale said: "It is incredibly slippy when it rains. I saw two people fall this week, one was an older gentleman, the other was a young woman. There was also a pregnant woman who nearly fell and had an awful fright.

"The old pavements were rougher and therefore less slippy. These ones need to be maintained and kept clean to stop this happening.

"The county reacted very quickly and now that the bit outside the shop has been powerwashed it is fine."