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A cafe owner says she has lost trade and money because of a flood defence project.

Work is being carried out in Kendal to build a defensive wall by the River Kent.

Magda Szymanska-Linowiecka, who runs Waterside Cafe, said the lack of a route for pedestrians past the construction had halted her passing trade.

The Environment Agency (EA), which is carrying out the work, said it required road and path closures "to ensure public safety".

The construction is being carried out along the west bank of the river.

A temporary bridge has been built for traffic but there is no access for pedestrians on the riverside path.

Ms Szymanska-Linowiecka also said the work was "noisy" and "disruptive".

The EA said: “Kendal Flood Scheme is a major engineering project involving extensive construction work that requires road and path closures at times to ensure public safety.

"We are doing everything possible to keep disruption to a minimum."

The new defences would provide better flood protection for more than 1,100 businesses and 1,480 homes, a spokesperson said.

The EA said it had “worked closely” with Ms Szymanska-Linowiecka to help with her compensation application.

This was “available to all businesses who have experienced a loss of earnings caused by the direct impacts and can show losses due to the construction of the Kendal flood scheme”, a spokesperson said.

But Ms Szymanska-Linowiecka said she had only received a third of what she applied for.

She said she was now fighting for more money from the EA and was receiving interim payments, but her time was focused on pursuing this rather than running her business.

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