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| Storm Desmond: body found in river Kent, Kendal – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.44am GMT11:44 | |
| Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett, says the impact of Storm Desmond should provide an impetuous to national and local authorities to help tackle climate change. | |
| In a statement she said: | |
| “Any individual event is of course weather, not climate change, but we know that scientists say that climate change will mean more frequent and higher level occurrences of extreme weather. The extraordinary Storm Desmond is a reminder that climate change is not something that will affect the distant future in far-off places, but an already existing reality that is impacting on all of our lives. | |
| “Storm Desmond also brings into serious question government plans to cut funding for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and its failure to commit to enhancing the spending for maintenance of flood defences, when this is so clearly needed. | |
| “Cumbria County Council should be reconsidering the call from fossil fuel divestment campaigns to take the £108m it had invested in 2013/14 in fossil fuels into investments that tackle climate change, rather than exacerbate it.” | |
| Updated at 11.47am GMT | |
| 11.37am GMT11:37 | |
| Summary | |
| Here’s a roundup of where things currently stand: | |
| Updated at 11.49am GMT | |
| 11.14am GMT11:14 | 11.14am GMT11:14 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| Sheila Brown, Cockermouth’s town clerk, was in her office in the town hall on Monday morning trying to coordinate clean-up efforts at local council properties. | |
| “There’s a massive clean-up operation going ahead now,” Brown told Damien Gayle. | “There’s a massive clean-up operation going ahead now,” Brown told Damien Gayle. |
| “They are cleaning up the road and the pavements, and people are coming down now to assess the damage.” | “They are cleaning up the road and the pavements, and people are coming down now to assess the damage.” |
| Waters flooded the Cockermouth town hall basement and the tourist information centre near Main Street, Brown said. She lives in nearby Camerton and her home had escaped the flooding, although parts of that town were also flooded. | Waters flooded the Cockermouth town hall basement and the tourist information centre near Main Street, Brown said. She lives in nearby Camerton and her home had escaped the flooding, although parts of that town were also flooded. |
| “I’m surprised the water has gone down so quickly,” Brown said. “Main Street is still closed but shopkeepers can get access to their premises to see what damage there is this morning.” She said she saw only one or two people out in the streets this morning as she made her way into work. | “I’m surprised the water has gone down so quickly,” Brown said. “Main Street is still closed but shopkeepers can get access to their premises to see what damage there is this morning.” She said she saw only one or two people out in the streets this morning as she made her way into work. |
| The Gote, a residential area to the north of the town which is flanked on two sides by the river Derwent, was the worst affected area and access to the area by car has been restricted. Brown’s daughter was hosting her boyfriend’s parents after their home on Derwentside Gardens was flooded. | |
| It was clear that some people expect the clean-up operation to continue for some time. “There’s lots of people looking for housing to rent in the short term,” Brown said. Some properties had been without electricity now for 36 hours, she added. | It was clear that some people expect the clean-up operation to continue for some time. “There’s lots of people looking for housing to rent in the short term,” Brown said. Some properties had been without electricity now for 36 hours, she added. |
| However, conditions were not as bad as when devastating floods swept through Cockermouth in 2009, Brown said. Then water levels had reached up to four feet inside buildings, now they were more like 18 inches. | However, conditions were not as bad as when devastating floods swept through Cockermouth in 2009, Brown said. Then water levels had reached up to four feet inside buildings, now they were more like 18 inches. |
| “Everyone is just trying to be positive, we’re quite a resilient community,” Brown said. | “Everyone is just trying to be positive, we’re quite a resilient community,” Brown said. |
| Updated at 11.48am GMT | |
| 11.07am GMT11:07 | 11.07am GMT11:07 |
| Troops from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, based in Weeton Barracks near Preston, continue to help with the rescue and clean-up operation in Carlisle. | |
| Updated at 11.48am GMT | |
| 10.58am GMT10:58 | 10.58am GMT10:58 |
| Body found in river Kent, Kendal | |
| A body has been found in the search of the river Kent, Kendal, writes Mike Glover. Police were called at 10.01am on Sunday to reports that an elderly man had fallen in the water. Officers, along with the underwater search team, are working to recover the body which has been located in the Kendal area. | |
| Updated at 11.45am GMT | |
| 10.48am GMT10:48 | 10.48am GMT10:48 |
| The environment secretary, Liz Truss, is due to make that statement to the Commons at 3.30pm. | |
| Updated at 11.44am GMT | |
| 10.45am GMT10:45 | 10.45am GMT10:45 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| A quick telephone survey of a dozen businesses on Cockermouth’s Main Street yielded no answer, writes Damien Gayle. | A quick telephone survey of a dozen businesses on Cockermouth’s Main Street yielded no answer, writes Damien Gayle. |
| Six rang out, while five had engaged tones and one a single drone, suggesting that telephone connections to those premises were out of order. | Six rang out, while five had engaged tones and one a single drone, suggesting that telephone connections to those premises were out of order. |
| Updated at 11.44am GMT | |
| 10.37am GMT10:37 | 10.37am GMT10:37 |
| This map shows the areas worst hit by the floods. | This map shows the areas worst hit by the floods. |
| 10.34am GMT10:34 | 10.34am GMT10:34 |
| Collapsed and dangerous bridges, main roads washed away and deluged railways meant chaos continued to turn lives upside down in the Lake District on Monday, writes Mike Glover in Kendal. | Collapsed and dangerous bridges, main roads washed away and deluged railways meant chaos continued to turn lives upside down in the Lake District on Monday, writes Mike Glover in Kendal. |
| As the waters receded Lancashire and Cumbria began to count the cost of the damage caused by Storm Desmond, which tore through the region at the weekend. | As the waters receded Lancashire and Cumbria began to count the cost of the damage caused by Storm Desmond, which tore through the region at the weekend. |
| Typical was Kendal, a town of 30,000 people at the gateway to the Lakes. It is built on the river Kent, England’s fastest flowing river, which burst its banks, consuming homes and businesses. | |
| All five bridges were closed as structural engineers checked their safety. One, Miller Bridge, is of particular concern. Police put up rush-hour blockades to stop commuters trying to resume normal working life, effectively trapping residents in the town. | All five bridges were closed as structural engineers checked their safety. One, Miller Bridge, is of particular concern. Police put up rush-hour blockades to stop commuters trying to resume normal working life, effectively trapping residents in the town. |
| Motorists are being asked not to travel on the A591 into Kendal due to flood water on the road. The road is closed from the Brettargh Holt roundabout. The A591 between Kendal and Windermere was open. | Motorists are being asked not to travel on the A591 into Kendal due to flood water on the road. The road is closed from the Brettargh Holt roundabout. The A591 between Kendal and Windermere was open. |
| Further north the A591 is the main route linking north, central and southern Lakes. It collapsed into a beck north of Grasmere, effectively splitting Cumbria in two. | |
| The number of roads falling into the fast-flowing streams and becks were growing by the hour. | The number of roads falling into the fast-flowing streams and becks were growing by the hour. |
| Schools were closed throughout the region, either because they were flooded, lost power or staff and pupils couldn’t get through. | Schools were closed throughout the region, either because they were flooded, lost power or staff and pupils couldn’t get through. |
| Updated at 11.44am GMT | |
| 10.29am GMT10:29 | 10.29am GMT10:29 |
| Truss: ‘We will learn lessons’ | |
| Environment secretary Liz Truss says the government will “learn the lessons” from the response to the floods. | |
| Speaking to BBC News she said she will outline “further support” to flood-hit communities in the Commons this afternoon. | |
| “We will do what we can to support those communities,” she said. | “We will do what we can to support those communities,” she said. |
| Challenged on the failure of flood defences, she said: “Across the north of England 8,000 homes were protected by our flood defences, and even in the cases where some of the defences were overtopped ... it delayed the flood so it gave us an opportunity to evacuate and protect people and reduce the impact of those floods. | Challenged on the failure of flood defences, she said: “Across the north of England 8,000 homes were protected by our flood defences, and even in the cases where some of the defences were overtopped ... it delayed the flood so it gave us an opportunity to evacuate and protect people and reduce the impact of those floods. |
| “But I fully understand what a devastating impact it was. Of course we will learn the lessons that we can from this unprecedented event.” | “But I fully understand what a devastating impact it was. Of course we will learn the lessons that we can from this unprecedented event.” |
| Updated at 11.40am GMT | |
| 10.20am GMT10:20 | 10.20am GMT10:20 |
| Readers have been submitting images of Storm Desmond flood scenes to GuardianWitness. | Readers have been submitting images of Storm Desmond flood scenes to GuardianWitness. |
| Duncan shared this image of Cockermouth. | Duncan shared this image of Cockermouth. |
| Cockermouth Main Street | Cockermouth Main Street |
| The Main Street of Cockermouth on Sunday at about 2pm. You almost forget how bad the situation is. | The Main Street of Cockermouth on Sunday at about 2pm. You almost forget how bad the situation is. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By Durcan | By Durcan |
| 7 December 2015, 9:34 | 7 December 2015, 9:34 |
| And here’s keltyboy’s image of Dunkeld in Perthshire. | And here’s keltyboy’s image of Dunkeld in Perthshire. |
| Dunkeld Perthshire | Dunkeld Perthshire |
| Dunkeld in Perthshire. The River Tay had just burst its banks early on Saturday morning. This is a photo of the river encroaching into the village | Dunkeld in Perthshire. The River Tay had just burst its banks early on Saturday morning. This is a photo of the river encroaching into the village |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By keltyboy | By keltyboy |
| 7 December 2015, 9:51 | 7 December 2015, 9:51 |
| 10.16am GMT10:16 | 10.16am GMT10:16 |
| Electricity North West appear to have tweeted too soon about power being restored to homes in Lancaster. In a statement it said 300 homes in Lancaster, Morecambe and the surrounding area remain cut off. | |
| In a statement it also said 2,657 properties remain without power in Cumbria. | In a statement it also said 2,657 properties remain without power in Cumbria. |
| Updated at 11.39am GMT | |
| 10.12am GMT10:12 | 10.12am GMT10:12 |
| Damien Gayle | Damien Gayle |
| Damien Gayle has been talking to Colin Graham, owner of an antiques shop that perches on a bridge over the Cocker, who lost all his stock in the town’s 2009 flood. | Damien Gayle has been talking to Colin Graham, owner of an antiques shop that perches on a bridge over the Cocker, who lost all his stock in the town’s 2009 flood. |
| Flood defences had held, he said, although at the height of the inundation, water spilled over the tops of the walls and flowed into the town’s Main Street. | Flood defences had held, he said, although at the height of the inundation, water spilled over the tops of the walls and flowed into the town’s Main Street. |
| Asked about the situation in the town, he said: “Wet is the ultimate word, I think. Miserable, wet; but having said that, the flood defences did hold to a degree. Had they not held it would have been a lot, lot worse, but they were sufficient for the amount of rain that was coming down. | Asked about the situation in the town, he said: “Wet is the ultimate word, I think. Miserable, wet; but having said that, the flood defences did hold to a degree. Had they not held it would have been a lot, lot worse, but they were sufficient for the amount of rain that was coming down. |
| “I’m one of the luckiest shopkeepers in town. Main Street got it bad, the water’s just been dispelled overnight.” | |
| Graham said the flooding started on Saturday night and into Sunday morning, as torrential rain swelled the Cocker to the tops of the flood defences. “About three o’clock it was lapping the bridge tops and ready to burst over the barriers,” he said. “And then it just came. But as I said, had it not been for the barriers, it would have been a lot, lot worse. | Graham said the flooding started on Saturday night and into Sunday morning, as torrential rain swelled the Cocker to the tops of the flood defences. “About three o’clock it was lapping the bridge tops and ready to burst over the barriers,” he said. “And then it just came. But as I said, had it not been for the barriers, it would have been a lot, lot worse. |
| “Main Street’s seriously affected and an area called the Gote. No one is allowed down there, it’s all cordoned off and that would get it horrendously, but I’ve not seen it so I can’t comment on that.” | |
| After an initial flurry of activity on Sunday, the numbers of emergency workers in the town had fallen on Monday morning. “You couldn’t stir for them [on Sunday],” Graham said. “They were pumping out, making sure everybody was safe. The river’s gone down, it must have gone down 12ft, and it’s still high. I think we are forecast more rain this morning.” | After an initial flurry of activity on Sunday, the numbers of emergency workers in the town had fallen on Monday morning. “You couldn’t stir for them [on Sunday],” Graham said. “They were pumping out, making sure everybody was safe. The river’s gone down, it must have gone down 12ft, and it’s still high. I think we are forecast more rain this morning.” |
| Updated at 11.38am GMT | |
| 10.06am GMT10:06 | 10.06am GMT10:06 |
| Dramatic video footage shows the impact of the floods. | Dramatic video footage shows the impact of the floods. |
| Helicopter footage of the flooded river Eden captures the scene in Armathwaite. | |
| Mobile phone footage from Warwick Bridge, Carlisle, shows houses half submerged in water. | |
| Updated at 11.37am GMT | |
| 9.55am GMT09:55 | 9.55am GMT09:55 |
| West Coast mainline to remain closed for 'several days' | West Coast mainline to remain closed for 'several days' |
| The West Coast mainline north between Carlisle and Glasgow will remain closed for several days after eight feet of water flooded the railway, according to Network Rail. | The West Coast mainline north between Carlisle and Glasgow will remain closed for several days after eight feet of water flooded the railway, according to Network Rail. |
| In a statement it said: | In a statement it said: |
| The depth of the water has reached its peak, but it is not expected to clear until Tuesday. A full assessment of the damage will take place as soon as the water recedes and everything done to reopen the railway as quickly as possible. A number of safety-critical cabinets, which house complex electrical equipment, are currently submerged and will have to be rebuilt once it is safe to do so. | The depth of the water has reached its peak, but it is not expected to clear until Tuesday. A full assessment of the damage will take place as soon as the water recedes and everything done to reopen the railway as quickly as possible. A number of safety-critical cabinets, which house complex electrical equipment, are currently submerged and will have to be rebuilt once it is safe to do so. |
| Railway lines in the region are being checked by trains manned by engineers with chainsaws and equipment to remove fallen trees and make repairs. | Railway lines in the region are being checked by trains manned by engineers with chainsaws and equipment to remove fallen trees and make repairs. |
| Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s route managing director, said: “North of Carlisle station, we have to wait for eight feet of water to recede before we can carry out extensive safety checks and repairs – including rebuilding a host of complex electrical and signalling equipment which is currently underwater. This, coupled with dozens of other sites which have been flooded or damaged, means we have a lot of work to do to ensure the railway is safe and able to be used.” | Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s route managing director, said: “North of Carlisle station, we have to wait for eight feet of water to recede before we can carry out extensive safety checks and repairs – including rebuilding a host of complex electrical and signalling equipment which is currently underwater. This, coupled with dozens of other sites which have been flooded or damaged, means we have a lot of work to do to ensure the railway is safe and able to be used.” |
| Flooded West Coast Main Line north of Carlisle station to stay closed for days https://t.co/5D6uwFbxno pic.twitter.com/AkH6dhyuMJ | Flooded West Coast Main Line north of Carlisle station to stay closed for days https://t.co/5D6uwFbxno pic.twitter.com/AkH6dhyuMJ |
| Updated at 10.01am GMT | Updated at 10.01am GMT |
| 9.45am GMT09:45 | 9.45am GMT09:45 |
| Power restored to all homes in Lancaster | Power restored to all homes in Lancaster |
| Power has been restored to all the homes in Lancaster, according Electricity North West. | Power has been restored to all the homes in Lancaster, according Electricity North West. |
| All supplies back on in #Lancaster! Thanks for all your tweets and understanding everyone. All 55,000 of you should now be restored. | All supplies back on in #Lancaster! Thanks for all your tweets and understanding everyone. All 55,000 of you should now be restored. |
| Earlier the company said it was working to restore power to almost 5,000 homes in the city. | Earlier the company said it was working to restore power to almost 5,000 homes in the city. |
| 9.33am GMT09:33 | 9.33am GMT09:33 |
| Cameron to visit flood-hit areas | Cameron to visit flood-hit areas |
| David Cameron is to visit affected areas after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency committee. | David Cameron is to visit affected areas after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency committee. |
| The government is also due to make a statement in parliament about the floods. | The government is also due to make a statement in parliament about the floods. |
| I've just chaired a COBRA meeting on the floods. There'll be further announcements this morning - and later I will visit badly hit areas. | I've just chaired a COBRA meeting on the floods. There'll be further announcements this morning - and later I will visit badly hit areas. |
| Updated at 9.36am GMT | Updated at 9.36am GMT |
| 9.30am GMT09:30 | 9.30am GMT09:30 |
| The Eden Bridge on the old A66 near Temple Sowerby has been closed because of flood damage. | The Eden Bridge on the old A66 near Temple Sowerby has been closed because of flood damage. |
| Images of the bridge showed water levels almost up to the road. | Images of the bridge showed water levels almost up to the road. |
| Police have urged the public not to walk or drive across any bridges that are under water. | Police have urged the public not to walk or drive across any bridges that are under water. |
| As the water subsides the bridges will be checked by highway engineers and declared safe before they can be used, Cumbria police said. | As the water subsides the bridges will be checked by highway engineers and declared safe before they can be used, Cumbria police said. |
| Old a66 near temple sowerby. pic.twitter.com/A0H7Rhhiyz | Old a66 near temple sowerby. pic.twitter.com/A0H7Rhhiyz |
| Updated at 10.02am GMT | Updated at 10.02am GMT |
| 9.22am GMT09:22 | 9.22am GMT09:22 |
| Lifeboats are being deployed to the Warwick Road area of Carlisle to help evacuate people from their homes. | Lifeboats are being deployed to the Warwick Road area of Carlisle to help evacuate people from their homes. |
| Cumbria police sent out this alert: | |
| In the next 15 minutes boats from the RNLI will be going up and down Warwick Road using loudspeakers to try and communicate with any residents that need evacuation from their properties. | In the next 15 minutes boats from the RNLI will be going up and down Warwick Road using loudspeakers to try and communicate with any residents that need evacuation from their properties. |
| If residents who are in need of evacuation could make themselves available to the RNLI boats they can be safely evacuated from their homes. | |
| Updated at 11.31am GMT | |
| 9.07am GMT09:07 | 9.07am GMT09:07 |
| If you’ve been affected by the flooding, GuardianWitness would like to hear from you. | If you’ve been affected by the flooding, GuardianWitness would like to hear from you. |
| Has your community been flooded? Are you without power or water? Are you unable to go to work, or are your children off school? You can share your videos and images of your experience via GuardianWitness. | Has your community been flooded? Are you without power or water? Are you unable to go to work, or are your children off school? You can share your videos and images of your experience via GuardianWitness. |
| Related: Storm Desmond: how has it affected you? | Related: Storm Desmond: how has it affected you? |
| 8.57am GMT08:57 | 8.57am GMT08:57 |
| 7,408 homes still without power | 7,408 homes still without power |
| Electricity North West appears to have made some progress restoring power to homes in the north-west but more than 7,400 homes remain cut off. | Electricity North West appears to have made some progress restoring power to homes in the north-west but more than 7,400 homes remain cut off. |
| We're still working hard to restore power to the final 4,751 properties in #Lancaster and 2,657 in Cumbria. #cumbriafloods | We're still working hard to restore power to the final 4,751 properties in #Lancaster and 2,657 in Cumbria. #cumbriafloods |
| Steve Cox, Electricity North West’s incident manager, said: “While we still have a significant amount of work to do to fully repair the substation, our teams have worked round the clock and done enough to restore power to a large number of customers earlier than expected.“Rather than wait any longer for the full repair and restoration of the site, we have chosen to provide power at the earliest opportunity.” | Steve Cox, Electricity North West’s incident manager, said: “While we still have a significant amount of work to do to fully repair the substation, our teams have worked round the clock and done enough to restore power to a large number of customers earlier than expected.“Rather than wait any longer for the full repair and restoration of the site, we have chosen to provide power at the earliest opportunity.” |
| Cox told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that power had been restored to the Lancaster General hospital but the Cumberland Royal Infirmary in Carlisle is currently being powered by a generator. | Cox told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that power had been restored to the Lancaster General hospital but the Cumberland Royal Infirmary in Carlisle is currently being powered by a generator. |
| Updated at 9.04am GMT | Updated at 9.04am GMT |
| 8.48am GMT08:48 | 8.48am GMT08:48 |
| The A69 road in Cumbria between Brampton and the M6 motorway remains closed because of flooding from the river Eden at Warwick Bridge. | |
| But the Highways Agency, which insists on calling drivers “customers”, has announced that A66 between Keswick and Cockermouth has reopened. | But the Highways Agency, which insists on calling drivers “customers”, has announced that A66 between Keswick and Cockermouth has reopened. |
| Updated at 11.29am GMT | |
| 8.36am GMT08:36 | 8.36am GMT08:36 |
| Environment Agency to review response to floods | Environment Agency to review response to floods |
| Sir James Bevan, the new chief executive of the Environment Agency, said his organisation will review its response to the floods. | Sir James Bevan, the new chief executive of the Environment Agency, said his organisation will review its response to the floods. |
| But speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he pointed out that rain levels over the weekend were unprecedented and that the EA could “never completely protect all communities”. | |
| He said: “We will review what happened and learn the lessons for the future.” | He said: “We will review what happened and learn the lessons for the future.” |
| He added: “You can never prevent all flooding. That’s why we prefer to talk about managing the risk.” | He added: “You can never prevent all flooding. That’s why we prefer to talk about managing the risk.” |
| He insisted the EA does have enough resources to deal with flood defences, but that it would have to make efficiency savings. “We have that confirmed capital investment of £2.3bn,” Bevan said. | He insisted the EA does have enough resources to deal with flood defences, but that it would have to make efficiency savings. “We have that confirmed capital investment of £2.3bn,” Bevan said. |
| Asked about criticism by the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, that the EA had shelved hundreds of flood-defence schemes, Bevan said: “We are keen to prioritise. We can’t do them all simultaneously.” | Asked about criticism by the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, that the EA had shelved hundreds of flood-defence schemes, Bevan said: “We are keen to prioritise. We can’t do them all simultaneously.” |
| Updated at 11.29am GMT | |
| 8.16am GMT08:16 | 8.16am GMT08:16 |
| Anger is mounting at the failure of flood defences. | Anger is mounting at the failure of flood defences. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Cumbria county council’s leader, Stewart Young, said: “There does need to be an investigation into the flood defences. | |
| “I will be talking to our local MPs later today and if the Environment Agency needs to revisit them then that’s what’s going to have to happen because we can’t continue to have events like this in Cumbria – we just won’t be able to cope.” | “I will be talking to our local MPs later today and if the Environment Agency needs to revisit them then that’s what’s going to have to happen because we can’t continue to have events like this in Cumbria – we just won’t be able to cope.” |
| Environmental campaigner George Monbiot wants to see more discussion on the causes of the flooding. | Environmental campaigner George Monbiot wants to see more discussion on the causes of the flooding. |
| And NO discussion of watersheds and upstream river management. News reporting at its worst: all spectacle and no explanation. #flooding | And NO discussion of watersheds and upstream river management. News reporting at its worst: all spectacle and no explanation. #flooding |
| Updated at 11.28am GMT | |
| 8.07am GMT08:07 | 8.07am GMT08:07 |
| Electricity North West said 40,000 homes in its region should have power restored by Monday evening. In a statement it said: | Electricity North West said 40,000 homes in its region should have power restored by Monday evening. In a statement it said: |
| “Using generators from across the UK, engineers have restored power to 11,000 homes in Lancaster and aim to restore another 4,000 later this morning. | “Using generators from across the UK, engineers have restored power to 11,000 homes in Lancaster and aim to restore another 4,000 later this morning. |
| “Engineers are working round the clock in shifts to repair damage caused to the area’s main substation which flooded on Saturday night. The remaining 40,000 properties should be restored by re-energising the substation by Monday evening.” | “Engineers are working round the clock in shifts to repair damage caused to the area’s main substation which flooded on Saturday night. The remaining 40,000 properties should be restored by re-energising the substation by Monday evening.” |
| The statement said that 2,685 properties in Cumbria remained without power because of 11 separate faults caused by flooding, with flood water preventing engineers from getting to the sites to carry out repairs. | The statement said that 2,685 properties in Cumbria remained without power because of 11 separate faults caused by flooding, with flood water preventing engineers from getting to the sites to carry out repairs. |
| Electricity North West’s incident manager, Steve Cox, said: “We’ve had engineers on boats working with the emergency services to try and access faults in Cumbria, and we’ve seen sterling efforts from teams in Lancaster to repair the damaged substation, while others connect generators to speed up restoration to customers.” | Electricity North West’s incident manager, Steve Cox, said: “We’ve had engineers on boats working with the emergency services to try and access faults in Cumbria, and we’ve seen sterling efforts from teams in Lancaster to repair the damaged substation, while others connect generators to speed up restoration to customers.” |
| Updated at 8.37am GMT | Updated at 8.37am GMT |
| 7.57am GMT07:57 | 7.57am GMT07:57 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Welcome to live coverage of the aftermath of the flooding caused by Storm Desmond. | |
| Here’s a roundup of how things currently stand: | Here’s a roundup of how things currently stand: |
| Updated at 11.26am GMT |