VOLUNTEERS and emergency workers who helped flooded Kendalians through some of their darkest days are to be applauded at a special event.

The afternoon tea at Kendal's Castle Green Hotel has been organised by the team at Sandylands Methodist Church - one of the hubs of the major recovery effort after Storm Desmond forced hundreds of families and businesses to evacuate in December 2015.

From kind-hearted neighbours to church workers, lifeboat crews to firefighters and police, more than 200 people have been invited to the reception, including those Flood Heroes nominated by Westmorland Gazette readers.

Sandylands community worker Rev Jonny Gios said: "We really just wanted to get volunteers and people from Kendal who have helped with the recovery process together to say 'thank you, you've been amazing'.

"There are still people not back in their homes and we want to help these people. We will go forward and hopefully get resilience measures in place to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron is to speak about the fortitude and community spirit shown by the people of Kendal. A specially commissioned film is also to be screened looking back to the floods and documenting the relief effort.

Kendal's deputy mayor Andy Blackman is to attend.