UNITED Biscuits says it is making good progress in repairing its flood-hit factory in Carlisle.

Almost all of the 640-strong workforce at the McVitie’s site in Caldewgate are back at work from today.

The factory was inundated by flood water when Storm Desmond hit in December.

United Biscuits said at the time that the site would remain closed “until further notice” although the Gold Bar line restarted last month.

Factory manager Mike Heaney said today: “The clean-up process is well underway and, thanks to the efforts of our hard-working team, we are about to begin testing on some of the ovens.

"Naturally, as the factory continues to work through the process to resume operations, more and more of our employees have been returning to work to help with the final recovery processes.

“Both employees and trade customers are being kept up to date on progress.”

The factory’s enforced closure led to a national shortage of Carr’s table water biscuits and McVitie’s ginger nuts.

United Biscuits even took out advertisements in national newspapers to apologise for the absence of table water biscuits from supermarket shelves.

The factory, which dates from 1831, is one of Carlisle’s biggest employers.