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| Army deployed in Cumbria over new flooding fears | Army deployed in Cumbria over new flooding fears |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Army has been called in to support efforts to protect flood-hit areas of Cumbria amid fears that more heavy rain will fall on Christmas Day. | The Army has been called in to support efforts to protect flood-hit areas of Cumbria amid fears that more heavy rain will fall on Christmas Day. |
| Troops will help to put out sandbags in preparation and flood defence gates have been closed in Cockermouth, Carlisle and Keswick. | Troops will help to put out sandbags in preparation and flood defence gates have been closed in Cockermouth, Carlisle and Keswick. |
| The government's emergency committee, Cobra, has discussed the situation. | The government's emergency committee, Cobra, has discussed the situation. |
| Cumbria has suffered severe flooding three times this month. | Cumbria has suffered severe flooding three times this month. |
| There are eight flood warnings in place, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required - one in Cumbria, one in Cheshire. two in Wales (Lower Dee Valley and Tenby) and four in North Yorkshire. | There are eight flood warnings in place, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required - one in Cumbria, one in Cheshire. two in Wales (Lower Dee Valley and Tenby) and four in North Yorkshire. |
| Nearly 100 flood alerts - flooding is possible, be prepared - have been issued across the UK. | Nearly 100 flood alerts - flooding is possible, be prepared - have been issued across the UK. |
| Up to 120mm (5in) of rain is expected to fall in parts of the North West from Friday and into Saturday, feeding already-swollen rivers and saturated ground in Cumbria. | Up to 120mm (5in) of rain is expected to fall in parts of the North West from Friday and into Saturday, feeding already-swollen rivers and saturated ground in Cumbria. |
| Rain was expected to spread across northern England and push northwards into Scotland through the course of Christmas Day. The rain will linger across northern Scotland into Boxing Day but will clear elsewhere. | |
| Another band of rain will affect northern England, as well as north Wales, overnight. This could last a number of hours, on and off, across north-west England but will persist for much of Boxing Day across north Wales. | Another band of rain will affect northern England, as well as north Wales, overnight. This could last a number of hours, on and off, across north-west England but will persist for much of Boxing Day across north Wales. |
| Wettest December | Wettest December |
| The Ministry of Defence said one company from 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2LANCS), based at Weeton Barracks near Preston, had been deployed to help build flood defences in Appleby early on Friday morning. | The Ministry of Defence said one company from 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2LANCS), based at Weeton Barracks near Preston, had been deployed to help build flood defences in Appleby early on Friday morning. |
| Cumbria has already recorded the wettest December since records began in 1910. | Cumbria has already recorded the wettest December since records began in 1910. |
| The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain - meaning "be prepared" - for Boxing Day. | The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain - meaning "be prepared" - for Boxing Day. |
| As well as the Army, the Environment Agency has 700 staff on stand-by to help people. It has also transported over two kilometres of temporary flood barriers and more than 20 extra pumps to the north of England and teams of workers have been out checking and maintaining flood defences, clearing blockages in watercourses and monitoring water levels. | As well as the Army, the Environment Agency has 700 staff on stand-by to help people. It has also transported over two kilometres of temporary flood barriers and more than 20 extra pumps to the north of England and teams of workers have been out checking and maintaining flood defences, clearing blockages in watercourses and monitoring water levels. |
| Thousands of properties were affected when Storm Desmond brought a record amount of rainfall to Cumbria during the weekend of 5-6 December. | Thousands of properties were affected when Storm Desmond brought a record amount of rainfall to Cumbria during the weekend of 5-6 December. |
| Four days later, further rain led to more flooding, and some parts of the county were inundated for a third time in a month on Tuesday after another deluge. | Four days later, further rain led to more flooding, and some parts of the county were inundated for a third time in a month on Tuesday after another deluge. |
| About 40 bridges and roads remain damaged or closed in the area. | About 40 bridges and roads remain damaged or closed in the area. |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Even at Christmas our Armed Forces are keeping us safe. Once again they are responding to the Cumbria floods with a level of commitment that is to be applauded." | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "Even at Christmas our Armed Forces are keeping us safe. Once again they are responding to the Cumbria floods with a level of commitment that is to be applauded." |
| Lt Peter Coates, who was among a group of soldiers working in Braithwaite near Keswick, said: "People have been really happy to see us. They've given us little snacks. They're just glad we're getting on with the task. | Lt Peter Coates, who was among a group of soldiers working in Braithwaite near Keswick, said: "People have been really happy to see us. They've given us little snacks. They're just glad we're getting on with the task. |
| "If it does flood people need to be prepared. Peoples' lives potentially, as well as their property, can be at risk so whatever we can do to help we will do to help." | "If it does flood people need to be prepared. Peoples' lives potentially, as well as their property, can be at risk so whatever we can do to help we will do to help." |
| Following a Cobra conference call, Environment Secretary Liz Truss said: "Our priority continues to be protecting lives, protecting homes and protecting businesses. | Following a Cobra conference call, Environment Secretary Liz Truss said: "Our priority continues to be protecting lives, protecting homes and protecting businesses. |
| "I would like to pay tribute to the tireless work of front-line staff over the last month and the resilience of those communities affected, which I have seen first-hand. | "I would like to pay tribute to the tireless work of front-line staff over the last month and the resilience of those communities affected, which I have seen first-hand. |
| "This has been a very difficult time for all involved, especially people flooded out of their homes at Christmas for which I have enormous sympathy." | "This has been a very difficult time for all involved, especially people flooded out of their homes at Christmas for which I have enormous sympathy." |
| 'We got donated a Christmas dinner' | 'We got donated a Christmas dinner' |
| Eight centres are opening up across Cumbria to put on Christmas lunch for those who are flooded out of their homes or do not have the facilities to cook. | Eight centres are opening up across Cumbria to put on Christmas lunch for those who are flooded out of their homes or do not have the facilities to cook. |
| Residents have also described receiving donations to help them enjoy the holiday. | Residents have also described receiving donations to help them enjoy the holiday. |
| Morag Little, whose house in Carlisle has been flooded twice, said despite the problems she and her family had faced, they would still be enjoying Christmas dinner together. | Morag Little, whose house in Carlisle has been flooded twice, said despite the problems she and her family had faced, they would still be enjoying Christmas dinner together. |
| "There's a man coming about 30 miles, all the way to Carlisle at 10:00 to deliver a table and chairs so we can have our Christmas dinner at the table... We got donated a full Christmas dinner as well, we've got the turkey, the Brussels sprouts, we've got the lot." | "There's a man coming about 30 miles, all the way to Carlisle at 10:00 to deliver a table and chairs so we can have our Christmas dinner at the table... We got donated a full Christmas dinner as well, we've got the turkey, the Brussels sprouts, we've got the lot." |
| Cluanie Inn in Inverness was where the most rain fell overnight from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, with 19.8mm (0.78in) recorded in the 12-hour period to 05:00 GMT, the Met Office said. | Cluanie Inn in Inverness was where the most rain fell overnight from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, with 19.8mm (0.78in) recorded in the 12-hour period to 05:00 GMT, the Met Office said. |
| The storm left more than 2,000 homes and businesses in Ireland without electricity on Christmas Eve. | The storm left more than 2,000 homes and businesses in Ireland without electricity on Christmas Eve. |
| Paul Mustow, deputy director in flood risk management at the Environment Agency, said his thoughts were with those who had suffered flooding to their homes in the run-up to Christmas. | Paul Mustow, deputy director in flood risk management at the Environment Agency, said his thoughts were with those who had suffered flooding to their homes in the run-up to Christmas. |
| "Our operational teams are working throughout the Christmas period to take action to reduce the potential impacts of flooding and support those communities affected," he said. | "Our operational teams are working throughout the Christmas period to take action to reduce the potential impacts of flooding and support those communities affected," he said. |
| Meanwhile, Supt Justin Bibby of Cumbria Police urged people to "keep up to date with weather conditions". | Meanwhile, Supt Justin Bibby of Cumbria Police urged people to "keep up to date with weather conditions". |
| People can access information from council websites and the Environment Agency Floodline. | People can access information from council websites and the Environment Agency Floodline. |
| The agency is also operating a phone line - 0345 988 1188 - which will be staffed rather than offering recorded information. | The agency is also operating a phone line - 0345 988 1188 - which will be staffed rather than offering recorded information. |
| 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. |