CN Group has reached out to flood-hit Cumbrian communities with a series of special edition publications, donations to a recovery fund, and a digital campaign that has already reached millions.

The group’s many publications responded quickly to the floods, with journalists working round the clock, some by candlelight, to bring devastated Cumbrians the latest updates.

As the county enters recovery mode following the floods, a digital campaign called #spiritofCumbria has brought the county together online.

As well as reaching millions on social media using the #spiritofCumbria hashtag, the movement has launched a website called spiritofcumbria.co.uk designed to connects offers of support with flood victims.

Hundreds of messages have already been posted, and businesses have been adding information about whether they are open for business, or when they will be back on their feet.

Thousands of people have already used the hashtag on Twitter as a statement of solidarity and to highlight the resolve of the county. The hashtag was seen over 13 million times in 24 hours.

At least £10,000 will be donated to the Cumbria Community Foundation's flood appeal by CN Group.

The group has also created a free advertising opportunity for flood hit businesses, and is encouraging them to get in touch this week in order to make the most of the opportunity.

The CN Events team rallied together to make sure the the Taste Cumbria Christmas event went ahead in Cockermouth as scheduled, and even managed to garner support from Sellafield that ensured traders could attend for free.

Lancaster-based The Bay Radio Station was flooded, with news editor Peter Storry trapped inside as electronic door systems stopped working during a power cut.

Managing director of The Bay Radio Station, Bill Johnston, paid tribute to the efforts of his staff.

He said: “I am incredibly proud of the whole Bay team.

"They really stepped up to the mark in providing a lifeline for listeners across The Bay.

“We're a bit overwhelmed with all the positive feedback and the number of messages of support we've received from listeners and also the business community."

Editor of the Times & Star, which published special editions specific to three regions.

He also paid tribute to the hard work contributed by his team, adding: "Head of content Nicole Regan updated our Facebook page day and night and gained thousands of new followers.

"On Sunday I took the decision to create a 24-page special floods edition, largely a pictorial record, for sale on the Tuesday.

"Then our main Friday edition carried a further 24 pages of analysis, human interest stories and pages of readers' letters about the floods.

"The title's three district editions had their own distinct front pages, and the overriding message by then was "We're Fighting Back".

In the aftermath of the flood, the News & Star managed to publish a 25 page special despite being being hit by a power cut, and several journalists continued to work even as their own homes were flooded.

The paper’s head office was hit by a power cut on Sunday but work continued as the company’s generators took over.

However, the company’s Dalston Road press could not be operated with generator power so the paper was printed off site.

News & Star editor, David Helliwell, said: “Thank you from all of us and if any businesses out there have any important information they need us to publicise please get in touch."

“For many of our staff this was deja vu as it was the third major flood in Cumbria in the last decade. Their response was everything you would want from a team; professional and their only thought being how they could cover this fast unfolding story.

“For some of them to do that on virtually no sleep, while knowing their own homes were under threat showed great resilience.”

Both the North West Evening Mail and Hexham Courant used social media heavily to keep its online readership informed, as an outage in its web servers disrupted website coverage over the weekend.

The Courant also published a nine page special section in the following edition.