Scores rescued from floods in Cockermouth in Cumbria
Scores of people trapped in their homes by rising flood waters were helped to safety by the emergency services today after torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks.
Worst hit was Cumbria, where main roads were blocked, schools were closed, and more than 200 people had to flee their homes and take shelter overnight in emergency evacuation centres.
The Environment Agency said hundreds of properties in Cumbria were flooded, with the towns of Cockermouth and Keswick worst affected as the waters rose rapidly last night.
RAF helicopters airlifted at least 50 people from buildings in Cockermouth, where police said around 960 homes were at risk of flooding.
Dozens of others were helped to safety by the RNLI, the coastguard, police, fire and rescue and mountain rescue teams.
The Met Office said the village of Seathwaite in Cumbria recorded 6.8in (173mm) of rain in 24 hours.
Another 5.9in (150mm) could fall on the Lake District's higher fells by midday today.
Flooding was also reported in north-west Wales and in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.
The Environment Agency had in place six severe flood warnings - all in Cumbria - 29 flood warnings, and 65 less serious flood watches.
Water levels rose to almost 8ft (2.5m) on the worst affected streets in Cockermouth and two bridges in the area collapsed, police said.
Homes in the lower lying part of Keswick were evacuated after the River Greta burst its banks yesterday morning, rising to about 5ft (1.5m) higher than normal.
Fire crews were called in from surrounding towns to help pump water out of flooded homes and get trapped householders out.
By the early hours flood water levels in Cockermouth and Keswick had stopped rising, allowing rescuers to reach people trapped in their homes by boat.
