EGREMONT'S community has praised the emergency services' "superb'' response to the weekend's threats of devastating flooding.

Following severe weather warnings on Saturday evening, a reception centre was quickly set up at West Lakes Academy to help any residents who may have needed to evacuate their homes. 

Fortunately, the rain only caused "minor disruptions" as the river Ehen did not reach the expected levels. 

Don Jackson, from the Egflood committee, said: "They were right to set the response centre up, with the amount of rain that was forecast. 

"All our sandbag stores were empty when I checked over the weekend, so residents have obviously been using them. Luckily the amount of rain didn't bring the river up as high as anticipated. 

"The river did burst its banks at Ennerdale Mill, but it went into the fields and not into properties. 

"It was right to set up the response based on the forecast because if the water level had been higher it would have been dangerous. In my opinion we only got half of the rain that was anticipated." 

The Egflood group, set up after floods hit the area in 2009, has its own flood plan which involves local emergency centres, including at the De Lucy centre, and sandbag stores that are accessible to the public. 

Mr Jackson said: "We make residents aware of potential flooding based on what the Environment Agency send out.'' 

Members of Egremont Town Council were also quick to praise the "superb" work of the emergency organisations involved. 

A council statement said: "It's always worrying when we're threatened by flooding, and that's especially the case for those who have had their lives turned upside down by flooding in the past.

"Therefore, on behalf of the residents of Egremont, we would like to praise the work of a number of agencies in preparing for potential flooding in the town.

The police and fire service were also joined at the weekend by Whitehaven and Maryport coastguard and Wasdale mountain rescue team at West Lakes Academy, in a multi-agency response.

County and district councillors also turned up at the academy to help, while Blackpool-based 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment had personnel on duty across Cumbria. 

Assistant chief constable Darren Martland, chair of the multi-agency group, said: "We are pleased that the weather caused less disruption than first predicted. 

"The response by the multi-agency partnership was excellent and shows that our co-ordinated approach and plans are well tested for such events." 

Rain is forecast in Egremont on Friday but there are currently no flood warnings in place.