Workington needs flood defence solutions now to protect homes from flooding this winter.

That was the message from residents at a public meeting last night.

More than 50 people turned out at town's Bridge Centre to discuss a draft flood investigation report compiled by the county council and Environment Agency following December's floods in Workington and Barepot.

Residents raised concerns that questions were still being asked that were raised following the 2009 floods.

Paul Douglas, of Hall Park View, said: "We need dates when our questions are going to be answered because if we don't get a date it doesn't happen."

The meeting heard that residents felt vulnerable due to apparent lack of action to repair damage done in the last flood.

Roger Jones, who has worked on similar projects in the past, urged the agency to remove gravel from the River Derwent as the river bed level had been raised significantly in recent years.

Hall Park view resident Jeannette Brown said: "We have got to have sustainable solutions to move the flood defences forward but we need speed as well.

"You can only be flooded so many times before you want to chuck yourself in the river.

"We need to do it properly but we need to do it faster."

The draft report, which is one of 53 being compiled across the county, includes proposed changes to reduce flood risk and improve flood resilience for the future.

The council pledged that by the end of September work should be complete to repair all damage caused by the last flood, taking defences back to their pre-December levels.

Chris Evans, Environment Agency flood risk advisor, said that would provide a basis for improvements.

He added that work was already under way to assess what changes were needed and draw up recommendations, with money sought from the Government to carry out work.

Twenty eight homes in the Hall Park View area and seven in Barepot were flooded when Storm Desmond hit.

Doug Coyle, the county council's lead officer for flooding, added that Camerton would be included in the investigation report for the Workington area following concerns from Richard Cole of Camerton Hall that the area had been omitted.

The agency and council plan to continue working with the community to finalise the report, which is due for completion this autumn.

A catchment plan by Cumbria Flood Partnership is due out next month.

Mr Evans urged the public to continue to get in touch with any information that could help provide a clearer picture and comprehensive plans for the area.