THE total bill for the January floods to the north of England and southern Scotland could be £500m, insurers said on Wednesday.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says work to repair damage to affected communities in the county could take months to complete.

The government is likely to foot a large part of the bill, with seven local authorities in the county so far making official requests for help.

An ABI spokesman told BBC Cumbria: "We are looking at between £200m and £250m for the damage in Carlisle and Cumbria.

"If that were to include the rest of the north of England and southern Scotland, we are talking about £500m."

Parts of the city of Carlisle, which was the worst affected, are still uninhabitable, with many homeowners and businesses still awaiting insurance settlements.