THOUSANDS of residents across the region are still attempting to return to normal in the wake of the storms that swept the region two weeks ago, reports Caroline Beamish.

Power was finally restored to the last pockets of South Lakeland and the surrounding area just a week ago, while residents of homes and businesses affected by flooding are also still counting the cost.

Extra staff have been drafted in by United Utilities to process claims for compensation submitted by residents and businesses which were without power for more than 48 hours consecutively.

So far, around 7,000 have been submitted, although Paula Wright, of United Utilities, expected many more were still to come.

"People have got a month to submit their claim in writing from the day their power was restored so we are expecting more to arrive in the coming weeks," she said.

"The process is straightforward and the first payments have already gone out to homes affected in both Cumbria and north Lancashire."

The prolonged lack of power was a serious matter for both elderly people and the infirm, or for those dependent on medication.

Bowness resident Trevor Hinxman, who is on oxygen for 16 hours every day, had to be rushed to Westmorland General Hospital when his emergency supply ran out. Now back at home, Mr Hinxman said the loss of power and up-to-date information had put him in grave danger.

In Kendal, the adverse weather prompted members of the Flood '99 group to reform as the Stock Beck Action Group to represent the residents of Lowther Park, Silverdale Drive, Calder Drive, Grasmere Crescent, Whitbarrow Close, Bowland Drive and Castle Park School.

The group is hoping to work alongside members of South Lakeland District Council in the search for a suitable solution to the flooding problem.

In Burneside, around eight homes were affected by floodwater, although the Rev Nigel Davies of St Oswald's said the village was spared a major incident because of the speed at which the water receded.

"Unfortunately, some homes in Bridge Street and at the end of Steeles Row were affected, but had the waters continued to rise, the severity of the flooding would have been much greater," he said.

Many people in the area have pledged money to the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund Appeal as they remember those worst affected in flood-stricken Carlisle.

Fund donations have now topped £360,000, with around £95,000 ready to be distributed to groups, organisations and individuals throughout the area.

Among these groups is Eden Citizen's Advice Bureau, which has received £1,500 to enable it to hold an additional weekly session in Appleby next month to support people affected by the floods and storms.

The Environment Agency plans to hold a number of drop-in surgeries for those affected by the floods to help with their immediate countywide review of flood defence systems.

Staff at the surgeries, which include Appleby on Tuesday, January 25, and Kendal on Thursday, January 27, will also be on hand to listen to residents' views and answer questions.

"We are keen to meet people whose properties were flooded, not just to offer advice and information, but also to hear what happened to them and how they were affected," said Glyn Vaughan, Environment Agency flood defence manager for Cumbria.

The Environment Agency drop-in surgeries will be held at the Market Hall in Appleby between 1pm and 7pm, and in the Bindloss Room at Kendal Town Hall between 2.30pm and 7pm.

l APPLEBY'S cloisters building will need some renovation work after being damaged in the recent flood. The town council said it would be bringing assessors in to look at the damage to an asbestos ceiling and front windows as the rain washed away all the putty and water will now leak in. Several fixtures and fittings will also need to be replaced.