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Storm Desmond: Homes flooded and travel disrupted as river levels peak Storm Desmond: Homes flooded and travel disrupted as river levels peak
(35 minutes later)
Flood waters have reached their peak as Storm Desmond continues to cause severe disruption to travel across northern England and parts of Scotland.Flood waters have reached their peak as Storm Desmond continues to cause severe disruption to travel across northern England and parts of Scotland.
Hundreds of homes have been flooded and more than 1,000 people evacuated in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders.Hundreds of homes have been flooded and more than 1,000 people evacuated in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders.
Carlisle was among the worst-hit areas and more than 50 severe flood warnings remain in place, mostly in Cumbria. Carlisle is among the worst-hit areas and more than 50 severe flood warnings remain in place, mostly in Cumbria.
There are no train services running between England and Scotland, and many roads are also closed.There are no train services running between England and Scotland, and many roads are also closed.
The Environment Agency says about 200 properties have been flooded in the North West, and military personnel have been brought in to help deal with flooding in Carlisle where a major incident has been declared. The Environment Agency says about 200 properties have been flooded in the North West.
Military personnel have been brought in to help deal with flooding in Carlisle where a major incident has been declared, and emergency crews are using boats to carry people to safety.
Follow live updates for Storm DesmondFollow live updates for Storm Desmond
Rain is now moving towards south-east England, with showers still expected in the North West throughout Sunday.Rain is now moving towards south-east England, with showers still expected in the North West throughout Sunday.
Met Office red weather warnings were reduced to yellow - and have now expired completely - across the UK. But new weather warnings are in place for Monday.Met Office red weather warnings were reduced to yellow - and have now expired completely - across the UK. But new weather warnings are in place for Monday.
In other developments:In other developments:
Across Lancashire and large parts of Cumbria more than 60,000 residents were without power, while eight rescue centres have been opened in Cumbria as the emergency services battle against rising flood waters. Across Lancashire and large parts of Cumbria, more than 60,000 residents were without power, while eight rescue centres have been opened in Cumbria for those forced to leave their homes.
Adrian Holme, from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said flooding was "unprecedented" as the River Eden burst its banks in Appleby and water levels came close to the top of flood defence barriers in Carlisle and Keswick.Adrian Holme, from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said flooding was "unprecedented" as the River Eden burst its banks in Appleby and water levels came close to the top of flood defence barriers in Carlisle and Keswick.
Pete Fox, from the Environment Agency in England, said: "The focus for today is Carlisle and I would ask people to be very vigilant there where we expect flood waters to peak at around nine o'clock." At the scene: BBC north of England correspondent Danny Savage
Coastguards and lifeboats in the centre of Carlisle. This city has seen it all before but it doesn't make it any easier.
I left Warwick Road about 01:00 GMT this morning with water rising rapidly. By 09:00 GMT it had spread much further towards the city - this appears to be worse than 2005.
The Army is here to help after the police went wading door to door in the early hours making sure residents were at least safe. Later, rescue teams with boats arrived to move those people who did want to leave.
They had watched the modern flood defences anxiously for hours. At 22:00 last night they were telling us the water was up to the top of the flood barriers and at about midnight it came spilling over.
Thousands of properties are without electricity - a hospital in Lancaster is running on generator power and there are worries about a substation in Carlisle. Residents are being told to keep phones fully charged now - if that substation goes, sixty thousand properties could be left without power.
Around 150 people were rescued overnight by the coastguard after a static residential caravan park was heavily flooded at Eamont Bridge near Penrith.Around 150 people were rescued overnight by the coastguard after a static residential caravan park was heavily flooded at Eamont Bridge near Penrith.
In Scotland, 600 people were evacuated from their homes in the borders town of Hawick and a train headed for Glasgow was left stranded at Carlisle station with passengers having to sleep on board overnight.In Scotland, 600 people were evacuated from their homes in the borders town of Hawick and a train headed for Glasgow was left stranded at Carlisle station with passengers having to sleep on board overnight.
Sophie Thornton, whose home is flooded in Carlisle, said: "It's absolutely horrible watching the inevitable happen. Basically, the water rose so very quickly that you were just watching it progress towards the house. Sophie Thornton, whose home is flooded in Carlisle, said: "It's absolutely horrible watching the inevitable happen.
"There was nothing we could do. We're now looking at a street which is waist height in water. It's just absolutely horrendous.""There was nothing we could do. We're now looking at a street which is waist height in water. It's just absolutely horrendous."
In 2010, a £38m flood defence scheme for Carlisle was completed, intended to protect about 3,000 homes and businesses around the city.In 2010, a £38m flood defence scheme for Carlisle was completed, intended to protect about 3,000 homes and businesses around the city.
John Curtin, executive director of flood management at the Environment Agency said provisional figures from a rain gauge at Honister in the Lake District showed 352mm of rain had fallen in 24 hours.John Curtin, executive director of flood management at the Environment Agency said provisional figures from a rain gauge at Honister in the Lake District showed 352mm of rain had fallen in 24 hours.
If verified, this would be a new record, and is more than double the average for entire month of December.If verified, this would be a new record, and is more than double the average for entire month of December.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, who is MP for the Cumbria constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale, was caught in the floods near Kendal.
He said: "It is incredible weather, we've not seen anything like this. And you know, this is Cumbria, we are used to challenging weather. This is beyond anything even I can recall... so many roads are underwater."
Storm Desmond is the fourth storm to be given a name by the public in a project by the Met Office and Met Eireann in Ireland to help raise awareness of severe weather.Storm Desmond is the fourth storm to be given a name by the public in a project by the Met Office and Met Eireann in Ireland to help raise awareness of severe weather.
Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Note: the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency display their flood alert data differently. While the Environment Agency highlights individual rivers only, in Scotland the entire region is coloured to indicate the level of alert.Note: the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency display their flood alert data differently. While the Environment Agency highlights individual rivers only, in Scotland the entire region is coloured to indicate the level of alert.
This map and flood alert data are supplied to the BBC by third parties. The BBC is not responsible for its accuracy and you use it at your own risk.This map and flood alert data are supplied to the BBC by third parties. The BBC is not responsible for its accuracy and you use it at your own risk.
Have you been affected by Storm Desmond? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by Storm Desmond? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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