Storm force weather ravaged South Lakeland and the surrounding area at the weekend leaving a trail of damage in its wake.

Thousands of residents were affected by the adverse conditions that saw 200mm (eight inches) of rainfall in just 36 hours as well as severe gales of up to 80mph.

Residents and business owners throughout the region have been left to count the cost of the damage by flooding and high winds both in terms of the financial loss and permanent changes to the landscape.

Worst hit was Appleby, where the River Eden burst its banks flooding around 100 homes.

Residents in Chapel Street and The Sands were evacuated to the town's Public Hall as the water level rose to just two inches below the flood protection barriers.

But the measures could not stop homes and businesses in The Sands being flooded by three feet of water in what Appleby town Mayor Frank Harland described as the worst floods for a century.

Kirkby Stephen town centre was also flooded along with other parts of the region as culverts and streams burst under pressure.

While the River Kent broke its banks in Kendal, most of the town escaped the worst of the wet although South Lakeland District Council and the Environment Agency used pumps to help disperse water pouring into Silverdale Drive, Lowther Park and Calder Drive.

Some homes in Mintsfeet Road, however, did not escape as the floodwaters took over much of the industrial estate.

The gale force winds caused a high volume of visible damage, tearing roof tiles from buildings and felling hundreds of trees and leaving 70,000 homes across Cumbria without power.

Continuing high winds made work to repair damaged cables extremely dangerous for engineers from United Utilities.

Many trees have been destabilised in the storm forcing The Woodland Trust, a leading woodland conservation charity, to take the unusual step of closing eight woods to the public to prevent accidents.

Hyning Scout Wood, at Warton, near Carnforth; Sea Wood, at Bardsea, near Ulverston; Beckmickle Ing, near Burneside; and Warriners Wood, Brigsteer, both near Kendal; were among those to be shut.

Grounds staff at Levens Hall lost between 50 and 80 mature trees, the largest of which, a Cedar, was a focal point on the estate.

The famous topiary gardens however, were only slightly damaged.

Around 400 trees were reported to have fallen at Whittington, near Kirkby Lonsdale.

Flooding and fallen trees blocked many arterial routes throughout the area.

The lake at Windermere was badly hit and Lake District National Park ranger Steve Tatlock reported 74 boats off moorings and jetties, with large numbers suffering severe damage.

"I've never seen conditions like them and in White Cross Bay alone the damage will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds," said Mr Tatlock.

"Wave surges were phenomenal and devastating, pushing to extreme levels up to the shore. JCBs have been used to recover some boats. The lake is now two feet above normal winter levels."

The national park visitor centre, at Brockhole, near Windermere, was also closed with a glass shelter behind the reception area being badly damaged.

The M6 had to be closed on both carriageways between junctions 43 and 44 after ten lorries were toppled in the high winds.

The A590 northbound into Kendal, the A6 at Carnforth, A66 at Eden Bridge, A591 at Brettagh Holt and A69 were all closed.

But Highways Agency and Environment Agency workers got quickly to work to clear a way through.

Residents in Milnthorpe found themselves isolated in the village on Saturday morning with flooding and fallen debris preventing vehicles from travelling on every access route.

Schools throughout Cumbria had to be closed after sustaining damage to building fabric. The Queen Katherine School, in Kendal, was closed to most pupils for a week on advice from the County Fire Safety Officer. Some were allowed on site, however, because of pressing exam work.

Staff at Windermere's Goodly Dale School arrived on site on Saturday morning to find the mature trees which feature on the school badge has been reduced to firewood overnight.

Footpaths were also seriously affected and in Hall Lane, Kentmere, four feet gullies appeared after 200 tonnes of surface material was washed away.

The full impact of the storm and the long-term implications for badly hit areas may not be known for some time.

But Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins welcomed an announcement by the Government that national funding will be made available for the clean up of the county.

He sought assurances from Eliot Morley, the minister responsible for floods and coastal defences, that South Lakeland will be included in any assistance package.

"I'm naturally pleased that the Government have heeded calls made by me and others over the weekend for a national response to the mammoth clean up task now facing the county," Mr Collins said.

Tim Stoddard, leader of Cumbria County Council, said it is clear the cost of repair and clean up work will run into many millions of pounds.

"Although it is too soon to assess the full impact of the storms and associated flooding that occurred last weekend, much of Cumbria has suffered a major disaster," he said.

"The physical damage, however, can be repaired or replaced; the debris can be and will be swept away.

"What cannot be swept away is the enormous psychological, emotional and indeed physical distress and trauma which have been inflicted on so many Cumbrian people."

* The cedar tree in the famous topiary garden at Levens Hall was felled by the storm on Saturday morning. The tree was planted by Mary Howard in 1820, the same year the tower overlooking the garden was built, and has been a focal point of the view from the tower windows for nearly 200 years.

See Photo Gallery (link below) for pictures.