Body found in hunt for policeman swept away on bridge in Cumbria
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Government will provide anything needed to help during the flooding.
He said: "The Government will assist. I have said to the chief constable (of Cumbria police, Craig Mackey) if he needs anything we will provide it."
Families were being rescued from the floods in the town this morning.
Dinah Cooper, 80, and her son William were saved from their home on Croftside, one of the worst-hit streets.
Mr Cooper said he has lost all of his possessions but is just glad that his family are safe.
His wife Helen said: "My husband and mother-in-law were stuck in the house but me and my daughter were safe because I went to pick her up from school yesterday and when I came back I couldn't get back into my house.
"We've been so worried because they were stranded there overnight. We've got nothing left but the clothes we are standing in but I am so happy to see them safe."
Workington MP Tony Cunningham said the flood was "of biblical proportions", seen only "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."
Michael Dunn, manager of the Bitter End pub in Cockermouth, said the town would not recover until next year.
He said: "This is a tourist town as well so it will hit very hard.
"There were cars floating down the street. It will be a long time before Cockermouth recovers from this."
The Environment Agency said the rainfall over Cumbria reached record levels.
The agency's gauging station at Seathwaite Farm recorded 314.4mm (12.3 inches) in 24 hours up to 00.45am - a record for England.
Evacuated residents spent last night in emergency reception centres at Cockermouth Secondary School, Keswick Convention Centre, Ulverston Victoria Hall School, Penrith Leisure Centre and St Joseph's Secondary School in Workington.
