Nearly half of Flimby's households have supported a call for a ban on any further building in the village to prevent flooding.

Maryport town councillors Carol Tindall and Peter Kendall, with resident Joy Chivers, presented 300 signed letters to Allerdale council planners this week. The village has around 700 homes.

The town council has called for an embargo on any building until the village's sewerage system is upgraded to cope with current needs and any future development.

This follows the publication of the draft Allerdale local plan, which identifies an area close to Ashcroft Plant Hire as suitable for housing development.

Councillor Tindall said she was delighted with the number of people from the small village who had responded to an appeal from the council to object to any building proposal.

She added: "We delivered the letters to Kevin Kerrigan, head of development services.

"He thanked us for the letters and assured us that this document was out for consultation and all submissions would be considered.

"I hope this is so or I and others will be attending and objecting to every planning application that comes in until the sewerage is upgraded."

Allerdale council is running a public consultation on the draft plan until March 24.

A drop-in will be held at Maryport Library from 1pm to 5pm on March 2.