URGENT help is needed to find temporary homes for up to 30 crisis-hit families in Kendal.

Many were forced from their homes by flooding in December and were helped by friends and family.

But others are still living in their flood-hit properties in the Sandylands area of the town.

Now they have turned to South Lakeland District Council for help to find longer-term accommodation while their homes are repaired – but there are no suitable properties available.

The council yesterday (Wednesday) issued a plea for more offers of 'affordable' rented accommodation in the Kendal area to help the flood-affected families – people like long-term resident Ian Ducksbury, who is still living upstairs in his Sandylands Road home.

Pensioner Ian, whose front garden is piled high with debris from the floods in a skip, is desperate for somewhere to stay so that workmen can move into his home.

It could take up to six months for the property to dry out and be made habitable again, said Sandylands Methodist Church community worker Jonny Gios.

And there are up to 30 more people, including families with young children, in a similar situation as the homes crisis builds.

SLDC has offers of temporary accommodation it can use to rehouse people in places like Ambleside and Grasmere.

But Mr Gios said the families in greatest need have no transport of their own and must to stay in the Kendal area to get children to school and get to their jobs.

"These are people who have lost virtually everything," he said. "We have upwards of 30 families on our database who need help and, for various reasons they need to stay in the Kendal area."

The floods crisis has also hit plans for refugees from war-torn Syria to be homed in the area, with Cumbria County Council winning exemption from Government plans to find homes for refugees with councils across the country as it responds to the devastation.

SLDC has confirmed that it has been receiving a second wave of requests for help from residents who suffered flooding at their properties.

An appeal was made immediately following Storm Desmond in early December for landlords and property owners to help with providing private rented properties for families.

Many people came forward with offers of assistance and the council's housing team compiled a list of available properties have been matching affected households with available homes.

However, as insurance companies and property owners start one of the largest rebuilding jobs ever seen in South Lakeland, more residents are now realising that they will need temporary accommodation for several months..

More than 2,200 residential properties were affected by flooding in South Lakeland – with an estimated 1,800 of them in Kendal.

Alan Davis, principal housing solutions and homelessness officer, said there was an emerging need for more temporary accommodation in the town.

Mr Davis said: “Temporary accommodation offers have come from all over the district, including from landlords and second-home owners, but now we are seeing greater demands for accommodation in Kendal and are appealing again for assistance.

“This is particularly to help families who may not have access to a car so would struggle to get children to school in Kendal, or get into work, if they were to be re-housed in properties in more remote parts of the district.

“We are especially looking for affordable, family-sized housing in the Kendal area, particularly arrangements which are flexible to cover a few months rather than the normal six month tenancies that are out there.

“In some cases landlords and hotel owners are waiving fees and lowering rents which is absolutely wonderful”.

If anyone can help they are asked to contact SLDC’s Housing Option Team on 01539 793199 or email homelessness@southlakeland.gov.uk