Sheep farmer Andy Dyer watched helplessly as 80 of his sheep faced certain death after they refused to cross the fast-flowing River Eden at Lazonby.

He had earlier managed to rescue a group trapped in a field adjoining the river bank after realising water levels were rising quickly.

“We tried for an hour to get the second lot into the water to cross to dry land, but one turned back and the rest followed. The water was up to our thighs, and we were left with no alternative but to abandon them for our own safety,” said the 55-year-old.

Miraculously, two of the sheep were recovered safe and well, but a third was found dead 6ft up a tree.

“It just proved how high the floodwater was. It was just so frustrating when the sheep all turned back,” said Andy, who farms beef and sheep at Garth Folds, Lazonby.

“What was worse, these sheep belonged to other farmers who were wintering them on our land. I had taken in over 1,000 breeding ewes from the hills for the winter. The one I found in the tree was the tup.

“It’s heartbreaking. It was just the speed of the water when the river burst its banks. I’ve never seen it so bad in all the years I have farmed here.”

Andy, also a farm manager for the Lazonby Farm Estates, says the loss of the sheep should be covered by insurance, but has been told that 1,500 metres of fencing damaged by the floods is not covered.

“It will all need to be replaced, but at our own cost. We also have around 70 acres of farmland that is contaminated. I will not be able to let animals graze it until well past the spring. I have had to bring my own sheep inside, so there will be the additional feed cost,” he added.

But one lucky break came when the farmer found two cows belonging to neighbouring farmer Gordon Tweedie after they had been swept downstream after being trapped by floodwater.

“It was remarkable. Nearly all of the cows that went into the river came out alive and well. One came out of the woodland, and the other was happily grazing on our fields,” said Andy.