"REWARDING, emotional, humbling, but a privilege" is how one volunteer has described the huge task of considering thousands of flood grant applications since December 2015's storms.

The flood recovery appeal launched by Cumbria Community Foundation at the height of Storm Desmond has now raised just over £10 million, with £4,414,419 awarded to 2,401 flood-hit households so far.

During the past six months, a team of eight professionals has given up countless hours to read each and every grant application. Andy Beeforth, the foundation's chief executive, has described them as "unsung heroes of the floods".

Andy said: "I don’t think there have been many days since the floods that they haven't volunteered a few hours each night to discuss the thousands of grant applications we have had.

"Many of them are trustees or sit on our normal grant panels, but everything they have done for the past six months has been in addition to that and I can’t tell you what a difference they have made. They are my unsung heroes of the floods; having their help meant we could turn applications for grant funding around in 48 hours."

Retired Cumbria Tourism chief executive Chris Tomlinson, 65, of Kendal, is among the volunteers. "Your home is a place of comfort, your retreat, the place you feel safe and I cannot imagine how desperate it must be to see it underwater," she said.

"We are not amazing. Those who stoically soldier on rebuilding their lives - they are amazing. I just wish we could do more."

Like many of the volunteers, John Whittle, 67, former chair of Penrith Mountain Rescue Team, has spent two to three hours ever night on the flood work. "It has been very moving and very demanding, but one of the best and most humbling experiences I have had," he said.

All the volunteers agree that a "disproportionate number" were already living with a degree of hardship, and for many being flooded was "the last straw".

Magistrate Jane Humphries, 69, who lives near Carlisle, said: "The public response to the appeal has been amazing and the work will leave its mark as it has been rewarding, emotional, humbling, but a privilege."

"We are very privileged to be allowed to enter these lives at a time of great stress, but also to be in a position of being part of this great organisation - Cumbria Community Foundation - that can change lives and make a difference when life is tough."

She added:

The volunteers also include retired NFU group secretary Nick Utting, retired solicitor Tim Cartmell, retired head teacher Willie Slavin, nurse Hokey Bennett-Jones and Saj Ghafoor, who runs a halal grocery.

- The foundation is still keen for people to apply for flood grants, especially from South Lakeland. To apply or donate, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org