Government confirms flood damage funds for Cumbria

The new government has reaffirmed commitments to provide funding for the rebuilding of Cumbria's flood damaged infrastructure.

The Department of Transport has confirmed support promised to the county following November's floods.

In a meeting between Cumbria County Council and the Department of Transport it was agreed it should not be part of the government's spending review.

Cumbria County Council said this was "welcome news".

Cumbria County Council said the Department for Transport also confirmed they remained comfortable with the level of funding requested for replacing bridges and repairing roads.

Cllr Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member for highways and economic development, said: "The fact that money pledged to help rebuild flood damaged infrastructure is not going to be part of the central government spending review is welcome news for the people of Cumbria.

"While we've come a long way in recovering from the floods over these past seven months there's still much work to do."

The government plans to cut £6.2bn in expenditure this year in an effort to reduce the national debt.