Children in Need will be broadcast from Cockermouth tonight, 12 months after the November floods that devastated the town.

Townsfolk will celebrate its recovery in style with celebrities, music acts and Pudsey Bear on Main Street.

The event was organised by flood recovery co-ordinator Dr Les Tickner.

Dr Tickner said: “It was a difficult one to call because a lot of people want to reflect on the floods, but there are also many people who are looking forward to a positive future and I think this is a further opportunity to show people nationally that Cockermouth and West Cumbria is truly open for business.”

The evening will see acts including X-Factor band The Reason, local band Crow Dog and Cockermouth’s dance group Mandy’s Dancercise.

Shops along Main Street will stay open.

Jonty Chippendale, chairman of the town’s chamber of trade, said: “It is a real coup to have Children in Need located in Main Street tonight. It is coincidental and poignant that it is the same night as the anniversary of the floods but nice that we should be celebrating coming through what was such a hard year by raising money for other people less fortunate than ourselves.”

Kate Hilton, development manager at the Kirkgate Centre, said: “It is making what will be a difficult weekend into a positive, special occasion. It is also about raising money and giving something back to others because so many people helped Cockermouth when the floods happened.”

Alan Tyson, town mayor, said: “We have had some fantastic events in the town over the year but I think this one is really going to help put the town back on the map again and will help the town to move forward from what has happened.”

Other celebrations due to take place this weekend include a lantern parade tonight from 6.30pm, which will start at the town hall, and a songs of praise event at St Joseph’s Church from 7pm to mark the anniversary.

The celebrations will come to a close on Main Street on Sunday with the Christmas lights switch-on, which takes place from 5pm.