A credit card firm has announced that it will not charge late payment fees for customers living in the two regions hit hardest by the Cumbria flooding.

Residents of the Cockermouth and Workington areas who have had their ability to make payments affected by the events, are to contact the group to receive their refunds.

The move comes in response to the disruption caused by the floods, with credit card customers finding it harder to make online or mail payments.

Amer Sajed, chief executive of the firm's UK's Business and International operation, said: "We will take a sympathetic approach to any customer who has been affected, and ask them to contact us as soon as they can to discuss how we can help."

The company will not charge businesses in the region for the use of Payment Acceptance, which has a monthly terminal rental and minimum billing levy.

The lender said the credit card offers will remain in place for three months.