Flood victims in Workington say they are still “absolutely terrified” that disaster will strike again a year after Storm Desmond.

Amanda Wallace, chairman of the town’s flood action group, said residents had been left in a “nightmare position” by a lack of action over the last 12 months and believes it is only a matter of time before another tragedy.

“100 per cent, people are absolutely terrified,” she said.

“They are just waiting for it to happen again and some people haven’t recovered nearly a year on.

WIt’s not a majority, it’s a minority in that position, but people are in it.”

Paul Douglas, who lives on Hall Park View and was flooded last year, said: “We’re gutted that nothing’s been done. Sandbags haven’t arrived and we were promised the rivers would be cleared out, which they’ve not been.

“You have to check the river daily to see if you can go away for the day and your life evolves around the river. We feel let down and vulnerable.”

Work has been carried out at Barepot, which receives money from a Government recovery budget because it already has a bund, and gravel was removed on a stretch of the Derwent near Workington in September.

But Amanda, who was flooded last year and in 2009, is disappointed more work has not been done and stressed the need for funding and a flood defence scheme before it is too late.

She said: “The biggest problem is funding and that’s down to the Government. Without that we’re limited in what we can do.

“It’s going to take a vast amount of work to attempt to solve the problems not only for Workington but looking at the Derwent catchment as a whole. If that money isn’t available then it’s just a case of when there’s another catastrophic flood event.”

Amanda said the Environment Agency had held initial meetings and a site visit about plans for a flood defence scheme.

But she is worried Workington would not score highly in the national bidding process due to the number of properties.

The community would also need to make a financial contribution so the group has discussed fund-raising options with Workington Town Council and Allerdale Borough Council.

Amanda hopes plans for a scheme can be in place by April and wants the flood action group to have an input.

Members of the group recently met Workington MP Sue Hayman, Labour’s Shadow Minister for flooding and coastal communities, to update her on the flood recovery.

Amanda said: “Probably in the new year Sue will be looking to meet with Workington, Cockermouth and Keswick flood action groups.

“Obviously, Workington doesn’t have any funding or formal flood defences and that’s the primary thing on the agenda. It’s all about finding a positive way forward.”