When the River Derwent rises, tension mounts for Barepot couple Anne Robertson and Chris Sellick.

The pair saw their home, Crossings House, undermined in 2009 when floodwater washed away land separating it from the river.

The conservatory on the side of the house was also destroyed and their ground floor devastated by water.

Six years on, the house has been underpinned and renovated but the house remains vulnerable in time of heavy rain.

The Environment Agency has installed a bund at Barepot to help protect homes and a new path has been laid alongside Crossings House but the property's position and the gradient of surrounding land puts it at risk of flooding from water run-off.

A beck also runs through the couple's garden.

Anne said: "The river was up this week and it was coming across the banks but the main risk of flooding is from across the fields.

"We put flood gates up on Saturday morning. It's the first time they have been up.

"It's only our second worry in the last five years.

"It's always a concern but you can't live your life by it.

"We are more vulnerable not having the land down the side but more specifically we are more aware."

That awareness allows the couple to be prepare for the threat of a flood.

As well as putting flood gates in place, on Saturday they moved their car off the driveway to a less exposed place and stayed at home all weekend in case they needed to take action.

Anne said: "It's not the flood that bothers us, it's the force of the water against the property and the land.

"A bit of redecorating is minimal compared to the damage."

Crossings House was not the only Barepot home with flood gates up this week, with many residents turning to them.

Stan and Susan Bell, of Glenfield Place, put a barrier across their front door two weeks ago to protect against water running off the road and a nearby Environment Agency compound and over spilling a drain outside their home.

The couple were out of their home for 10 months after the 2009 floods.

Stan, 71, said: "We are very concerned. After the drama of last time is never disappears. You don't know what to expect."

He added that they had not been offered any information or support since concerns began to rise about possible flooding.

The couple feel so forgotten about that they have named their house Brigadoon.

Stan said: "You'd think there would be somebody somewhere thinking Barepot was flooded last time, what about this time.

"Nobody's knocked on our door. They seem to be concerned about Keswick and Cockermouth.

"I feel for those people because they have been flooded so many times and it must be horrendous but if the water's coming down the river it's got to come past here.

"We have just got to get on with our lives and hope for the best."