A WINDERMERE off-road vehicle hire firm has offered to reimburse wedding guests after being accused of taking advantage of Cumbria's floods.
More than 1,500 Facebook users have shared the original complaint about Kankku which accused company bosses of 'exploiting' guests at a Lake District wedding.
The post stated: "Having been in the Lake District over the weekend where Storm Desmond was an uninvited guest at Bryn and Megan’s wedding I feel I must post something about a company who I believe exploited numerous guests who attended the wedding.
"This company is called Kankku Off Road Adventures at Victoria Forge, Victoria Street, Windermere, LA23 1AD who realising that many people were stranded and unable to drive through the flooded roads transported people to Merewood Country Hall hotel at £95 per trip, even though these trips were only a couple of miles in length!"
A number of reviews have since been posted on TripAdvisor about the incident.
The Evening Mail understands the wedding guests who paid Kankku for the transport had contacted the company to book a vehicle.
The individual who posted the original complaint on Facebook added: "I feel that this company should be named and shamed for exploiting vulnerable people and pressure should be applied on them to donate their profits from the day to charity or a disaster fund for those affected by the floods.
“This company probably received over £1,000 just from the guests at the wedding so how much they actually made on the day/night must have been enormous. So come on please share and hopefully Kankku will do the right thing."
Kankku owner Nick Fieldhouse has since offered to reimburse any wedding guests.
Mr Fieldhouse said: “On 5th December Kankku mobilised staff and vehicles from 5am as part of our normal 24 hour 4x4 off road recovery service charged at a flat rate of £80 + VAT.
“Under extreme conditions, we made multiple recoveries and helped over 20 guests make their wedding at Merewood Hotel.
"Our off road vehicles are specially prepared to traverse deep water and this enabled us to assist where others could not.
”Our service often includes recovering vehicles from open fell ground and floods, and what appeared to be a normal call-out service soon developed into an operation amidst unprecedented conditions and as a good will gesture anyone wishing to be reimbursed should give us a call.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Ambleside woman defends man accused of 'flood opportunism'
Latest weather, traffic and travel news
Luxury Windermere hotel offered to flood victims
Flood-stricken Cumbria pulls together through #spiritofcumbria campaign
Cumbria flood victims urged to be vigilant
Windermere company offers refunds after flood opportunism claims
Health warning to Cumbria residents after floods
Campaign For Cumbria's Flood Heroes Launched
TIMELINE: How Storm Desmond disaster unfolded
Search teams recover body from swollen Cumbria river
Team rescues man swept downstream in Windermere
David Cameron meets Cumbria flood victims
Tragedy as south Cumbria horse is lost in floods
Lake District hotels remain shut after floods
Government will reimburse councils for flood costs
Climate change ‘played a part’ in Cumbria floods
Cameron 'failing' on flood defences - Corbyn
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here