Storm Desmond: Photos of Carlisle and Cockermouth during and after the Cumbria floods

The water has receded from homes, leaving behind muddy carpets, water-stained sofas and destroyed mementoes. Residents are counting the costs of Storm Desmond. PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that the storm caused an estimated £500m of damage across the county – almost double the cost of the floods that hit the area six years ago.

These photos, taken just a day or two apart, show Cumbrian towns during the major flooding event, and after the water had receded.

Cumbria floods — A man is pictured wading through flood water on River Street in Carlisle on 6 December, and the same scene two days later Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Up to 5,000 homes in Cumbria and Lancashire were flooded during the storm. The army was deployed on 6 December to assist with rescue efforts while Prime Minister David Cameron visited the flood-torn regions on 7 December.

These photos show residents clearing out their flooded homes. Hundreds of people were forced to leave their dwelling, and insurers have warned it could take up to a year for some residents to move back into their homes because of flood damage.