Rivers that burst their banks during the December floods are being dredged as preparations are made for the winter.

The Environment Agency says it is planning to remove silt and debris from both the River Caldew and Little Caldew in Carlisle.

Work is also continuing this week to remove 4,000 tonnes of gravel from the River Greta at Townsfield in Keswick, which is expected to be finished within the next two weeks.

Efforts are also continuing to strengthen the embankment and reseal the flood defence at the River Derwent in Barepot.

However, the Environment Agency has warned that repair work to the river embankment walls near the bridge in Holme Street, Appleby, will not be completed for another two months.

Recent heavy rainfall means the building of the defence wall in Glenridding has also been delayed after scaffolding was damaged.

Additional work to protect Carlisle from winter storms is also being undertaken in the city, in areas that were hit by flooding from the River Petteril.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "Following the completion of the upstream side, work to strengthen Botcherby Bridge over the River Petteril continues on the downstream side this week.

"Concrete has been strayed onto the mesh cage which has been drilled into the bridge to provide extra strength to the stonework of the structure.

"The whole project is expected to be completed ahead of schedule (mid-September). This allows gravel removal to take place earlier under the bridge."

In October, the Environment Agency says it is planning to replace the lift-up floodgates on the River Caldew at Caldew Maltings.

However in Cockermouth the Environment Agency said that although nearly complete, work to remove gravel from the River Derwent in Cockermouth has been delayed due to heavy rainfall.

It said: "There is approximately two days' of work left to do at the downstream side of Gote Bridge. However teams have been prevented from completing the work by the high water levels in recent weeks.

"The River Derwent in Cockermouth is highly influenced by the levels in Bassenthwaite Lake, which is currently high following several weeks of relatively wet weather.

"It is expected that the river levels will remain above the safe working threshold for a few weeks and so are currently redeploying construction plant to another site.

"The Environment Agency will continue to monitor the river levels and will remobilise if the levels drop to a safe level within the river working window."