FLOOD-hit almshouse residents say they are absolutely delighted to be back home this week more than two-and-a-half years since Storm Desmond forced them to evacuate.

Kendal great-grandparents Trevor and Anne Ediss were the first couple to be handed back the keys to their Victorian cottage at the town's Aynam Road on Tuesday. Visibly relieved, they told the Gazette how "lovely" it was to return after an absence of 133 weeks.

By the end of July they are to be joined by seven more sets of neighbours and old friends at Sleddall Victoria Jubilee Almshouses, where they left behind a miserable scene of sodden desolation back in December 2015.

Two feet of filthy water entered their much-loved homes during the unprecedented storm, which saw 225.8mm (almost nine inches) of rain deposited in 36 hours.

The devastation hit 2,358 properties across South Lakeland, and the Environment Agency called it "the largest flood event ever recorded" in Kendal.

As contractors stripped away flood damage from the 16 terraced almshouses, significant and longstanding structural problems were fully revealed, explained Colin Tomlinson, clerk of Kendal Almshouse Charity.

An expert team of engineers, surveyors and underpinning specialists had to be assembled to underpin as well as renovate the 1887-built properties. This painstaking and lengthy process cost £1.65 million and is now close to completion.

This week contractors handed back 12 completed properties, with the four remaining due to be ready in September. Mr Tomlinson said he and the charity trustees were "thrilled" to be finally returning keys to residents, and he praised their patience.

"It's extremely rewarding," he said. "The trustees have been extremely pleased that it's worked because it's been a big project for a charitable organisation of this size. To see the end product is very satisfying and the quality is excellent. It's very pleasing to see friends and neighbours coming back together."

Mr and Mrs Ediss told the Gazette they were overjoyed and relieved to return to their home and their much-missed back garden of roses and delphiniums.

"It's been a long haul but it's been worth it when you look at it now" said Mrs Ediss, 74, who was a domestic supervisor at Westmorland General Hospital.

"When we heard the church bells I said, oh, we are home. We've missed our view and the church bells."

Mr Ediss, 78, praised "brilliant" family members who had "worked their socks off" to help them move from their rented flat on Stricklandgate. The retired HGV driver suffers from COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - and so cannot walk far or carry heavy boxes.

The couple, who have 17 grand- and great-grandchildren, paid tribute to the "fantastic" contractors who had restored their 130-year-old cottage with skilled workmanship.

The riverside view from their living room window is tranquil now, but at the peak of Storm Desmond the Kent was surging at 403,000 litres (88,660 gallons) per second.

Kendal Almshouse Charity, a registered social landlord, oversees 41 properties at Aynam Road, Romney Road, Noble's Rest and Sandes Hospital in the town.

Charity clerk Mr Tomlinson said it had been "a long road" since the storm, and everyone was "delighted, absolutely thrilled" to see residents returning after more than two-and-a-half years.

He explained: "We knew there were some inherent structural problems with the buildings, and when we stripped out the properties for drying out after the storm it revealed the extent of those significant difficulties."

The charity had to commission a complete survey of all 16 properties and produce a detailed specification for repairing flood damage and strengthening the foundations.

Each property now has 18 reinforced concrete piles, with the foundations "stitched" at each corner.

"On top of that we've filled the massive void between the floor levels to stop water coming in," said Mr Tomlinson. "They've been refurbished to a high standard. We've put in new kitchens; we've replastered them all, both the ground floor and first floor; renewed the electrics; and recarpeted them all."

The £1.65 million bill has been footed by the almshouse charity, South Lakeland District Council, charitable bodies, and Homes England, the government's national housing agency. Insurers funded the flood repairs.

Immediately after Storm Desmond, the almshouse neighbours - a close-knit community - were moved into temporary accommodation paid for by the charity, which also covered their storage costs.

The friends have all kept in touch and supported each other, said Mrs Ediss.

Not all are returning as some have moved permanently into other almshouses which became vacant as the months went by. On July 30 a celebration is to be held to thank everyone who worked on the project and to welcome the residents home.

Mr Tomlinson said it had been "a bumpy road", but contractors had done a superb job and been "extremely understanding of the needs and requirements and sensitivities" of the project. The team included two Kendal firms - architects Day Cummins and civil and structural engineers RG Parkins & Partners.

South Lakeland District Council said there were now 23 properties across the district classed as vacant after the 2015 floods. They included the 16 Aynam Road almshouses and two other properties that were partly occupied, with residents back home but living upstairs.