general pix taken in alfa by paul and tom - 2 attached 

HUNDREDS of people signed up for online updates from Cockermouth Flood Action Group as the weather worsened.

Since the 2009 floods, defences have been put in place but until last weekend no one was really sure how effective they would be.

The water levels in town did not get as high as during the floods six years ago but they still tested the defences.

Sue Cashmore, of Cockermouth Flood Action Group, lives on Gote Road, which has flooded many times in the past. 

She said: "We would definitely have flooded here but the new defences and drainage system have done their job. The new drains and pump which the environment agency put in definitely saved us.

"There had been lots of anxiety beforehand, people were saying they had not been that worried for six years. We had never really tested the flood defences before."

Six years ago, She set up a flood action group Facebook page. It had 21 members until last week, when numbers soared to 530.

Many people were grateful for Sue's regular updates.

"I wanted people to be able to keep in touch with what was going on, this enables the community to stay empowered and make decisions. People were advised to keep their drains clear and kept up to date with information from the Met Office. It was also great being able to reassure people," said Sue.

"As hard as the weekend has been we should all be reassured that we are better protected than previously thanks to the flood defences and river management."

Michael Cleeland manages furniture store Leslie Cleeland on Main Street.

Six years ago the store was badly flooded at one of its busiest times of the year. 

"Before last weekend, as the forecasts came in, that was the first time since the floods that I felt there was a possibility it might happen again. 

"I fish in the River Derwent so know a bit about rivers. Over the weekend I was regularly checking the water levels. I have an app on my tablet from which I can read the gauge by The Kingfisher.

"At one point it was being updated half hourly. I think the highest level was 2m 84cm, which is way off what it was six years ago.

"On Sunday morning I was up early and went across Miller's Footbridge, the water was not as high as I thought it might be.

"People had been talking about all the rain but it was not as bad as six years ago. I was quite surprised with how well things have coped."