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Last year's West Cumbrian floods caused unprecedented devastation.

One year on, and the impact of Cumbria's "biblical" floods still shows.

I was in Cockermouth a few weeks ago. It's the town I grew up in and one I still visit, and have great affection for.

It's remarkable to reflect on the scale of its recovery in the last 12 months.

I broadcast from the devastated Main Street on the weekend after the floods that wreaked havoc throughout the county.

It was not an exaggeration to say it looked like a war zone.

Now, once more it is a street full of life. The resilience of the community is remarkable.

But 12 months on, some shops are yet to reopen, and householders still trying to put their lives back into place.

Now some of those events have been relived in the House of Commons.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham paid tribute to his constituents.

In a debate called by Workington MP Tony Cunningham, fulsome tribute was paid to the people of Cumbria and the emergency services that played such a huge role in making the disaster as manageable as possible.

It was Tony Cunningham that first used that adjective "biblical" to describe last year's floods.

And most accept that no amount of preparation or defences could have prevented the flooding.

But the debate did raise concerns about what might happen in the future in terms of flood prevention, especially at a time when the budget in that area is being cut.

Tony Cunningham also said cuts to the police force which had played such a huge part in events last November were worrying Cumbrians.

He said he'd received a letter from a Police Community Support Officer whose job could now be under threat.

She told the MP that officers like her had been there for the community when needed, but wondered whether the State would now be there for the officers when they lose their jobs.

And cuts to funding for Cumbria Tourist Board were described as short-sighted in an area which needs to woo visitors back.

The devastating impact of floods on the people of Cockermouth 12 months ago.

But concern was also raised about the future of funding for flood defences.

The events in Cornwall this week add to the impression that flooding is going to become more common and more devastating.

How then can a Government short of funds afford to spend more on flood defences?

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In return communities the would then get a say on where defences were placed.

But given that householders will have to pay the levy on top of often crippling insurance premiums, that might be scant compensation.

Tony Cunningham said that idea had gone down like a "lead balloon" with the constituents he had spoken to.

also rubbished the idea and said this was no time to be cutting the flood defence budget.

In reponse, flooding minister Richard Benyon appeared to downplay any idea of a flood tax.

But he did talk about finding ways for communities to fund flood defences without government money being spent.

How that will work was less clear though.

Of course, West Cumbria would be unbelievably unlucky to suffer the same scale of flooding again in the near future.

But the Commons debate - and events in Cornwall - show that many communities are still far from safe from similar levels of devastation.

Perhaps it's impossible to protect everywhere, every time, but communities in areas at risk will want to know that as much as possible is being done.

The Politics Show this Sunday will be looking at the future for flood prevention, including more from Tony Cunningham.

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