Scores rescued from floods in Cockermouth in Cumbria
Not even the Queen escaped the bad weather - she had to keep a firm grip on her hat in strong winds as she arrived at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire for a service yesterday.
The storm is expected to ease off today as it moves into south-east England, but gales and heavy rain are predicted to return tomorrow.
Rachel Vince, a forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "There will be some respite by tonight - by the evening it looks like being dry across the whole of the UK."
An RNLI spokeswoman said one of its boats based in Workington evacuated residents from an old people's home in the area.
She said: "The information I have is that it happened overnight and a dozen people were rescued from Camerton Hall residential home."
Cumbria Police said the extreme force of the high waters passing under bridges was putting them at risk of structural damage.
Northside Bridge, the main bridge into Workington on the A597, has collapsed, meaning the gas supply into the town has been cut off, a spokesman said.
Lorton Bridge near Cockermouth has also collapsed, as well as Southwaite footbridge in Cockermouth, he added.
"Some members of the public have been reported to be using bridges as vantage points to view the flood waters," he said.
"This could be extremely dangerous and the public are advised to stay away from bridges and use caution and common sense.
"Engineers are attempting to monitor bridges for structural damage but it is difficult to do this while waters remain so high.
"People are being urged to avoid all non-essential travel in Cumbria. Many roads are closed and impassable."
Meanwhile the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that at 12.45am Humber Coastguard received a call from Northumberland Fire and Rescue asking for coastguard assistance in an incident where an elderly woman had become stuck in her car near Coldstream, in Northumberland.
The woman had been driving from Wark towards Cornhill when the car was engulfed in flood water from the river Tweed.
Humber Coastguard also sent the Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team, as well as liaising with ARCC (Air Rescue Co-ordination Centre) Kinloss to request that an RAF helicopter be diverted from flood response efforts in Cumbria to airlift the woman.
Royal Navy helicopter Rescue 177 from Prestwick was sent to the scene and the woman was airlifted to Edinburgh hospital at 1.45am.
Mike Green, Humber Coastguard watch manager, said: "By the time the woman was rescued she had been in the water for two hours, but despite her ordeal, was reported not to require urgent medical attention, and was said to be in high spirits.
"The woman did absolutely the right thing by calling 999 and asking for help, and it was due to her clear instructions on her location that she was able to be found so quickly.
"Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team played an invaluable role in providing a communications link between the helicopter and the coastguard operations room, and we are pleased that the lady was able to be quickly plucked to safety and taken to hospital."
