A CARETAKER who stayed up all night to defend his school is a true Flood Hero, say grateful pupils and staff.

David Hourihan, site manager of Stramongate School, Kendal, kept a night-time vigil during Storm Desmond's record downpours last December to ensure sandbags were keeping floodwater at bay.

Thanks to his dedication, classrooms, dining hall and offices stayed dry despite water levels reaching waist-high in the playground. For the 64 children and nine staff members whose homes were flooded, the school became a much-needed safe haven.

"You have to keep morale going," said Mr Hourihan. "I wanted to keep the school going for the children, because of what they'd gone through. It's my job."

Eight-year-old Grace Manion got in touch with the Gazette to say that fellow pupils and staff had nominated "Mr H" as their Flood Hero.

Head teacher Mike Poole told the Gazette: "If it hadn't have been for his quick thinking, the school could have been underwater quite literally. Dave lives on site and so he kept an eye on it every hour all the way through the night."

He added: "He's a great bloke and he's got a super outlook. He really looks out for the school and he's done - and continues to do - a fabulous job.

Immediately after the storm, the school had to close for two days while engineers repaired boilers, and Mr Poole explained: "It was really important we had the school up and running as quickly as possible so that the children could come to school and parents could have some time to get on with important business of clearing houses."

From serving hot lunches to replacing lost book bags and uniform, the school did all it could to help. "We've still got families that aren't back into their homes yet. There are several families who have been told they won't be back in till July," said Mr Poole.

"It's been a very, very difficult time and it continues to be a very, very difficult time. Many of our children are supporting friends, and families have been very generous with places to stay and having children round for tea. It's the small things sometimes but they make a real difference to children's lives."

* To nominate your Flood Heroes email mike.addison@kendal.newsquest.co.uk