FLOOD weary residents and businesses have renewed their call for action after they were left wading in thousands of pounds worth of water damage for the second time in 20 months.

Around 12 homes and business premises in Windermere Road, Grange-over-Sands, were left under four inches of water on Monday following heavy overnight downpours.

The flood has been described as one of the worst to hit the flood-plagued road in decades, eclipsing floods in February 2004.

But campaigners who have repeatedly called for a relief scheme to end their misery say it would have been far worse if they had not drafted in a private contractor to keep the rising water levels down by using a pump.

Chairman of the Windermere Road Flood Action Group John Smith said properties could have been up to ten inches under water if they had failed to act.

He berated the lack of help from South Lakeland District Council and said that the council's failure to clear culvert "trash" screens, which stops debris from entering the culverts, had been a major cause of the flooding.

Residents were frantically working to ensure drains were clear of leaves as water continued to flow down from Hampsfell and surrounding fields after the rain subsided on Monday afternoon.

Mr Smith said properties were then hit with a double whammy when water sprung through floors as underlying limestone reached its capacity.

"We have had to take it on the chin again," said Mr Smith, who together with some neighbours had moved carpets and placed furniture on blocks in preparation.

"We have learnt to help ourselves now because we aren't getting it from anywhere else nobody wants to know."

Businessman John Coles also criticised SLDC after the five shops he lets out at the bottom of Windermere Road suffered "considerable" water damage. He said one of the shops had recently undergone a refit while another was changing hands.

Charles Davies, owner of the Elton Hotel, was also left fuming after water damaged carpet in six ground floor rooms while Batemans Toyota had to move 30 used cars from its forecourt to save them from the water.

SLDC environmental protection manager Mark Richardson said there was little that could be done to stop the flooding on Monday.

"There was just too much water coming down the hill," said Mr Richardson, who believes the floodwater was three feet deep at its height.

He sympathised with the plight of Windermere Road residents but said any relief scheme would have to come through the council, which could not afford it and would therefore have to call on the tax payer for help.

Mr Richardson estimated that around 30 homes were affected by flooding in the district on Monday, including homes in Lindale, Ambleside and Kirkby-in-Furness.

Flooding also caused problems on roads in Staveley, Sizergh, High Newton, Lindal-in-Furness and Ings.