Floods cause devastation in Cumbria
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in Cumbria after flooding of 'biblical proportions'.
Four bridges collapsed, main roads were blocked, schools closed and more than 200 people were forced to leave their homes in Cockermouth overnight after the deluge struck.
The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place - all in Cumbria - 29 flood warnings, and 65 less serious flood watches.
Workington MP Tony Cunningham said the flood was "of biblical proportions" and seen "once every 1,000 years".
The Labour MP told Sky News: "The scale and the force of the devastation in Cockermouth is huge."
Mr Cunningham said it would have taken great force to destroy the Northside Bridge in Workington.
He said: "I went down to the bridge last night and I've never seen the River Derwent as wide as it was. The force of the river was absolutely incredible. This is a stone bridge, to wash away a bridge of that size and dimension is incredible."
At one time water levels in Cockermouth, reached almost 2.5 metres on the worst affected streets. RAF helicopters had earlier airlifted at least 50 people from buildings. Dozens of others were helped to safety by the RNLI, the coastguard, police, fire and rescue, and mountain rescue teams.
Chief Superintendent Steve Johnson of Cumbria police said house to house searches were going on in Cockermouth to make sure people who had not been evacuated were safe.
