FLIMBY was the first place to be impacted by Storm Desmond and, residents believe, the first forgotten.

A torrent of water poured down the hill from Barrel Arch and within minutes, it seemed, the village was inundated.

It was later when the floods hit Cockermouth, Keswick and Carlisle and suddenly, residents felt, this village had been left behind.

Carol Tindall, local councillor and resident, recalls that it was a Thursday night.

“We had youth group but we sent the kids home. At 7pm it was dry. By 7.15pm the rain was coming down like something out of a horror movie and by 7.30pm I had water in my front room.”

Carol’s was one of around 123 homes flooded in the village that night.

Next day Allerdale council turned the Methodist chapel was turned into a donation centre where hot food, bedding, clothing and furniture were brought in and given out to those who needed it.

Carol was on of the volunteers at the chapel, despite having to move out of her own flooded home.

Dealing with the aftermath of the flood was as traumatic as the event itself for many. One week later, Rebecca Gunning, of Westfield View said at the time: “At the minute, and you won’t believe this, I’m still sat with no electricity or gas.

“We’re sorry for Cockermouth, Keswick and Carlisle but as soon as it happened there they had the army flying in to help. We’re the same, people have lost everything here and we do feel forgotten.

“People are wanting to put dehumidifiers in to dry the house out but they can’t do that because I’ve got no power.”

There was some help available.

Allerdale workers helped people fill out forms to apply for grants from Cumbria Community Foundation’s 2015 Cumbria Flood Appeal. Supermarkets Tesco and the Co-op also donated groceries to help the hungry.

Brian Hodgson, who lives on Westfield View with his wife Anita, and children Scott, Adam, and Emma, said the community spirit was what kept people going.

“Everything downstairs in our house is gone, all the carpets and furniture.

“We’re staying at my mother-in-law’s but there’s five of us up there.

“Even on the day the whole street was out and everybody in the village was trying to help everybody else, it was a real community feeling.”

Carol agreed as her anger was mixed with pride in this community.

She said: “I sincerely hope this is the start of more attention for Flimby.

“It’s galling because we were flooded on Thursday.

“It’s the people of Flimby having such a good community spirit and helping, we’ve all stuck together.

“Neighbours have been very good but they can’t feed everybody indefinitely.”