A Flimby couple facing up to six months out of their home are counting themselves lucky.

Andrew and Beverley Gorley were forced out of their home near St Nicholas' Church after heavy rain during Storm Desmond was gravel off a nearby path and blocked drains.

Water washed through an oil drum in the couple's garage and flooded the ground floor of their home, leaving an oily film.

Foster carers Andrew and Beverley spent one night in the Golden Lion at Maryport before moving to the Travelodge at Cockermouth for a fortnight, while the child they look after went to stay with other foster carers.

Two days before Christmas all three moved into a house in Maryport where they will stay until work to repair their house it complete.

The couple have lost their new kitchen and the floors have been damaged in other rooms.

Despite that, the Gorleys feel fortunate.

Andrew, 54, who works for United Utilities, said: "Luckily we're insured. There are quite a few people in the village who aren't insured and I feel for them.

"When you look at the impact of the floods in Carlisle and York we've been lucky.

"For me I think it's water, mop it up and get on with it. We've got the safety net of insurance.

"When you're facing being out of your home for maybe six months, having a nice base to go to makes a difference."

The upheaval just before Christmas caused concern for the couple's foster child, who feared Father Christmas would not know where to find him.

Thanks to a party laid on by the village's allotment committee, he was able to make sure Santa was fully briefed.

On Christmas Day, he was overjoyed to find that his presents had been delivered to the right place.

Andrew said: "We are very grateful to the people who have helped and the offers of accommodation we have had from people.

"The entire local community has been brilliant. Everybody's mucked in and got on."