K VILLAGE, the Kendal shops, apartments and office complex, has come to the rescue of a family firm closed by the floods.

Tomorrow (Friday) Nigel Byrom, The Family Furnisher, will open up in the Lound Road frontage of the complex.

The firm, which has been in Kendal for 82 years, had to close its shop in Wildman Street, when the River Kent over-spilled last weekend during Storm Desmond.

The shop was up to waist deep in water. It lost stock and fittings and together with damage to the building, faced a loss of more than quarter of a million pounds.

Fortunately they were insured. But they faced months of closure and started looking for alternative premises.

At the same time, Lou Kendal, the new owners of K Village put out the word that they were looking to help businesses stay afloat.

Nigel and his son Aaron, the fourth generation of Byroms in the business, were the first to take them up on the special deal.

Miles Allen, for Lou Kendal, said: “We have retail units, storage space and office space for short term or long term rent and we can move quickly as the Byrom move shows.

“Mr Byrom was able to be trading within days of viewing the unit. This speed of turnaround is available to other flood victims now.”

General Manager Mandy Dixon said: “We wanted to assist flood victims to stay in business and not miss out on the opportunities that exist in the run up to Christmas.”

Nigel said: “K Village has come up trumps. They have put out their hand in a show of solidarity.”

Nigel has managed to get carpet rolls from his suppliers, which he is offering to fit, free of charge, in one room of any home affected by the floods, where the occupiers were not insured.

They are consulting with South Lakeland District Council on deserving cases.