WORK has started to strengthen vital flood defences in Cockermouth town centre.

A crane arrived on site on Tuesday, to carry out work behind Koppers, the former police station off Main Street.

A large section of bank crumbled under the force of the water and debris during floods at the end of October, leaving the flood wall exposed.

Matt Crump, Cumbria’s operations manager for the Environment Agency, said: "Works have now started in Cockermouth to strengthen the flood defences by using a crane to place stone bags in the river to prevent further erosion of the river bank.

"It is expected that this work will take around one week to complete.”

The nearby Old Courthouse, which is next to Cocker Bridge, had to be evacuated last month as flood waters had weakened the 192-year-old structure.

The county council also had to carry out repairs on the bridge last week, after cracks appeared on the surface. A tree was also removed from the bridge.

An EA spokesman said: "We are prepared to take action this winter wherever it is needed. Throughout the year we have continued to build and repair flood defences. We have 250 high volume pumps available and 6,500 trained staff across the country, including 314 trained flood support officers.

"We’re also making the most of new technology to prepare for and respond to floods."