FLOOD victims in Keswick and Cockermouth are being invited to register with a Cumbrian law firm which is currently investigating whether there is a case for legal action against United Utilities.

K.J.Commons and Co say  that, by registering with the Group, people are under no obligation and will be kept informed of the response from United Utilities and of any developments in the case. Registration does not constitute any form of retainer with the firm.

“Having made our investigations and if we are of the opinion that there is a case to answer, we will contact you formally and invite you to participate. Whether you do, or not, is entirely a matter for you, and the purpose of this website is purely by way of assistance to those in the locality who have suffered as a result of the flooding,” say the lawyers.

The West Cumbrian solicitors are acting for a small group of people who believe they have a valid claim and have set up a website aimed at other potential claimants.

Genoticedonline.co.uk revealed soon after the chaos in Cumbria that an explenation was being sought for the sudden surge of water which brought such quick and destructive floods to Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington.

One Hall Park View resident descriobed "water approaching across Curwen Park like a mini tsunami." It was clearly something more than heavy rainfall.

There is growing pressure on United Utilities to provide improved flood protection measures for the communities living in the areas affected, though they insist they have done nothing wrong.

Campaigners want the firm to ensure water levels at Thirlmere are kept to three metres below the reservoir wall. They say this would leave room for the huge volumes of extra water brought by periods of heavy rain.

In the House of Lords last month, Lord Dale Campbell-Savours (pictured) urged United Utilities to put Thirlmere at the heart of flood alleviation. He called for “an end to United Utilities resisting reductions in water levels on the dam in high rainfall periods and an end to the delay in the funding of flood protection measures on west Cumbria rivers, in particular the Greta in Keswick.”

The peer added: “The people of Keswick are fed up with the dithering of United Utilities, which defends the Thirlmere water assets for its shareholders while it is the people of Keswick and west Cumbria who are paying the price.”

United Utilities said the flooding resulted from unprecedented rainfall levels – a once-in-1,000 years incident – and not because of Thirlmere reservoir.

United Utilities says it has a defined operating policy for controlling the water levels at Thirlmere, specifically to help with flood protection measures and this policy has been agreed with partners such as the Environment Agency and has involved the Keswick Flood Action Group. The company maintains that the daily management at Thirlmere has been in line with the agreed procedure during this exceptionally challenging period.

Lord Campbell Savours, the former Workington MP, said today(Friday) that United Utilities was preparing a number of major changes in the management of Thirlmere.

He said that, following talks with the Chief Executive of United Utilities, Philip Green, some radical proposals were being considered and nothing was being ruled out.

United Utilities were wishing to introduce a new system which would facilitate the release of large volumes of water in periods of high rainfall, but at times when there was no risk of flooding in Keswick.

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