A KENDAL pub is reopening its doors after it was left damaged in the floods.

Liz Crawford, the landlady at the Duke of Cumberland on Appleby Road, said that it had been a long wait.

The pub was busy with customers when Storm Desmond hit the town in December.

"People were running around with their plates of food," recalled Liz. "You do not know what to do. It was flowing like a river and down the steps like a waterfall.

"Everyone got their hands dirty and helped us save what we could."

Customers then had to stay the night at the pub, as there was no way for them to leave safely.

Liz, who has been the landlady of the pub for the past four years, said that it has been a 'long slog' to get the pub back as it should be.

Not only has the business been out of action for the past six months, but the pub was also her home and so she had to move into a flat in town.

"It's been hard," she said. "It's good to be back. It was a long time - half a year.

"Opening is a bit of normality."

Although the pub had a quiet opening last weekend to ensure that everything was in working order, customers have been invited to attend a larger celebration this Saturday (May 28).

As much as anything else, Liz said that she has missed her regular customers and is looking forward to seeing them again.

"We haven't all seen each other since the floods," she said. "We haven't had the social aspect to speak to each other."

The grand re-opening of the Duke of Cumberland will start at 2pm, with entertainment and food both being provided.