THE South Lakes community has rallied around a family displaced by flooding near Coniston.

Graham Nicholson, wife Pheona and his family of three child-ren lived in a National Trust property in Lower Yewdale that had its whole ground floor flooded when the River Yewdale burst its banks during the downpours.

Forced from their home, the family has received a donation from the Cumbria Community Foundation to help flood victims, while Coniston School has also stepped in to stage a birthday party for the family’s youngest son, which was cancelled because of flooding.

Pheona is 30 weeks pregnant.

She and Mr Nicholson’s stepdaughter Rosina, 14, stepson Angus, 16, and son Harry, five, grabbed what they could and went to stay with relatives when the waters rose.

Mr Nicholson, an agriculturalist, attem-pted to divert the deluge away from the house but was powerless to stop the unprecedented amount of water, which flowed into the ground floor and rose more than three feet in barely two hours.

While the floods raged, Rosina heard an advert on the radio for Cumbria Community Foundation funds to help flood victims, and decided to apply.

“I’d have been glad to get £50, but they’ve sent enough to replace a lot of what we lost. It’s been a real help,” said Mr Nicholson.

The family had lived at Lower Yewdale for six-and-a-half years, but Mr Nicholson said they probably won’t be able to return.

“On a practical level, we have three – soon to be four – children, and we can’t really be in a place constantly won-dering if it’s going to flood.

“It’s hard leaving home. We had pet hens that we’ve had to give to the neighbours.”

The family is now staying at the Bank House National Trust property in Hawk-shead.

Mr Nicholson prai-sed the community spirit and generosity of people of Coniston and Hawkshead.

“The people in the village have been great. They rallied around us,” added Mr Nicholson.