A SERIES of public meetings and drop-in events have been organised by Cumbria County Council in areas prone to flooding.

The new Draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Cumbria states that there are now 'substantial' local flood risks in many areas across the county and 23,500 properties are affected by surface water flooding.

Although the major floods of 2005 and 2009 were caused by large rivers, up to 60 per cent of flooding occurs from surface water, groundwater or ordinary watercourses.

The flat, low-lying drainage systems which can back up include those in Ulverston and Grange-over-Sands. Other areas are at risk of flash flooding run-off from surrounding hills include Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere.

And with one in ten of all Cumbrian properties at risk of surface water flooding, local people are being encouraged to get involved in understanding the risks and what can be done to reduce them at public meetings and drop-in events arranged at the following venues:

December 8, Appleby Town Hall, 6pm; December 8, Dalton Drill Hall, 6pm; December 11, Kendal Fire Station Community Room, 6pm..