A FLOOD damaged shop in Kendal is to open its doors to the public again tomorrow (May 20).
The Sandylands Spar shop was 'destroyed' during Storm Desmond, but after five months it will finally be back to business as usual.
Sharon Walker, who has been the owner of the shop for the past 34 years, cannot wait to get back to work.
"It's been really hard work," she said. "We have missed all our customers very much and we cannot wait to get back to normal."
The shop was left unusable after the December floods, with Sharon describing the end result of the storm as 'absolute carnage'.
"It looked like a tidal wave had gone through, like a bomb had gone off in the shop," she said. "It was like being in a disaster movie.
"We cried the next day. We walked around in a daze, just trying to clear the shop."
And it was not just Sharon and her staff who felt the effects of the shop's closure, the Sandyland's community has also felt the loss.
"It's not just a shop, it's a community space," Sharon said. "Older people come in to have a chat and have a coffee. It's been really difficult for the community.
"Getting the shop back open will definitely improve morale in the area."
The Rev Jonny Gios, of Sandylands Methodist Church, agreed that the impact of the shop's closure was 'massive'.
"It's been greatly, greatly missed," he said. "And as people move back the Spar is well needed.
"It's one of the key things in the area to open back up. It will make people's lives so much easier."
Residents who struggle to get to and from the larger supermarkets will once again be able to pick up a slice of Sharon's homemade cake, as well as their weekly copy of the Gazette.
To celebrate the reopening of the shop, Steven Hall of Britain's Got Talent fame will be cutting the ribbon.
Sandylands Spar will be open from 6.30am on Friday and the official opening will take place at 10am. Refreshments will be available, including Sharon's famous homemade cakes.
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