Managing director Paul Cusack said the agency was damaged by three feet of water as the town’s high street was flooded; he also had to borrow a canoe from a neighbour to get to the shop on Sunday.

Cockermouth Travel was previously flooded in November 2009 and the shop was closed for six months. The agency moved to a temporary home as repairs took place and they even received a visit from Prince Charles.

“It’s not as bad as last time when we had six feet of water in the office,” Cusack told TTG. “We had also moved all the electrics and cables to eight feet high after the last flood. We saved all the computers and all the IT, but we will need new desks.”

Cusack said he was immediately able to put together a plan having been through the experience before. He also set up a temporary office at his nearby home so the agency could continue operating.

“I’m hoping that we can move back into the office in a few weeks, even if the work’s not finished, so we can get back trading,” he added.

The floods also led Phil Nuttall, managing director of Travel Village in Blackpool, to offer help to any fellow independent agencies whose premises have been damaged.

“We just want to help in any way we can,” he said. “They can use our hardware, internet and can even set up in our office using their log-ins and get their calls diverted here.

“Whatever they need to do, we can do it for them. They can have a virtual office so they can run their business as normally as possible.”

Other agencies in Cumbria had narrow escapes from the floodwaters during the weekend. 

Sue Macpherson, co-owner of Keswick Travel, said: “We used some sandbags to protect the front door on Saturday. We had a lucky escape as the water didn’t get into our premises but it did come close.”

Gates Travel, which has shops in Kendal and Ambleside, closed its branches early on Saturday because staff risked being unable to get home due to the floods. The agency also had to cancel its Christmas party.

Director Angela Dobson said: “If we hadn’t closed early, we wouldn’t have got home. We were open as usual on Monday although family and friends have been affected by the floods.”