AFTER losing £50,000 worth of stock to flood water which reached over seven feet inside some premises, it took Marcus Davison’s insurers more than seven weeks to spring into action. And now, 12 months after his home and business in Corbridge were left completely devastated by Storm Desmond, he and wife Lizzy are left unable to find an insurer who will offer flood cover as part of their policy.

But the couple, who run their Dyvels Home interiors business from Station Road, say they are not alone.

“This is not just a problem we face. It’s a national issue for small businesses, which are not covered by the Government’s Flood RE scheme,” said Marcus.

“It seems generally expected that the insurance industry caters for small enterprises and that there are competitive products available, but in reality, that is just not the case.”

Using a network of suppliers to source unique and unusual items for the home, the business also offers a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom design and fitting service.

“Although the house and shop are next door to each other we have two different insurers and we faced a fairly torturous few weeks initially to find out whether the business claim would be accepted,” he explained.

“It took us until July to get back to full stock and the showroom, which is essentially being fitted out like a little flat to show the products, is still not finished.”

The couple’s 27-year-old son George, who works as a deck-hand onboard a yacht which travels the world, had just set off on the three-day trip home from the Solomon Islands last December when Storm Desmond hit.

“He’d been at sea for 11 months mopping up and then he came home to exactly the same thing,” said Marcus, who praised the support the family have received from the local community.

“People just kept turning up with wheel barrows to help us muck the place out and we can’t thank everyone enough.”

Footage of the couple, along with their Labrador Hugo, being rescued from the first floor of their home has been viewed by millions online.

Just along the road, Arnie and Tove Brown, who run the popular Fellcroft bed and breakfast, have had a very different experience.

Despite the fact that last December saw them flooded out of their home and business for the second time in a decade, they count themselves lucky.

“We have nothing much to complain. Every step of the way, our insurance company could not have done more for us,” said Tove.

“We had local company, Crawford Higgins, appointed to look after everything and it was so much more efficient than first time around.”

After renting an unfurnished flat in Hexham while repairs were carried out, the couple’s insurers even provided them with £2,000 to buy furniture for their temporary home. A £5,000 grant given to flooded residents by the Government was used to install valved air ricks and a flood gate.

And, since moving back in to their home at the end of May, business has been brisk.

“When we were back up and running people were practically queuing outside,” said Arnie, who amnmaged to salvage much of the couple’s solid wooden furniture and a grandfather clock which has been in his family for generations.

“We get a lot of business from people on walking holidays. And we’ve had an influx of Americans who were particularly intrigued by Brexit!”