This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cumbria/8369400.stm
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Rescuers help 200 in flooded town | Rescuers help 200 in flooded town |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 200 people have been rescued in the town of Cockermouth after major floods struck across Cumbria. | About 200 people have been rescued in the town of Cockermouth after major floods struck across Cumbria. |
| RAF helicopters airlifted at least 50 to safety, with some forced to break through the roofs of their houses. Dozens more have been rescued by boat. | RAF helicopters airlifted at least 50 to safety, with some forced to break through the roofs of their houses. Dozens more have been rescued by boat. |
| Water levels in some parts of the town centre were more than 2.5m (8.2ft). | Water levels in some parts of the town centre were more than 2.5m (8.2ft). |
| Meanwhile, a search operation is under way for a police officer feared missing after flooding caused a local bridge to collapse in nearby Workington. | Meanwhile, a search operation is under way for a police officer feared missing after flooding caused a local bridge to collapse in nearby Workington. |
| A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Unfortunately we can confirm that one of our police officers is unaccounted for after a bridge collapsed at Northside in Workington. | A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Unfortunately we can confirm that one of our police officers is unaccounted for after a bridge collapsed at Northside in Workington. |
| "A search operation is under way and we have assigned a liaison officer to support the family. This is an extremely difficult time for the officer's colleagues." | "A search operation is under way and we have assigned a liaison officer to support the family. This is an extremely difficult time for the officer's colleagues." |
| href="/local/cumbria/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8369000/8369753.stm">Essential weather information class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/8368983.stm">In pictures: flooding in Cumbria | |
| Police are now warning people to stay away from bridges after water pressure also destroyed the Southwaite footbridge in Cockermouth and the nearby Lorton Bridge. | Police are now warning people to stay away from bridges after water pressure also destroyed the Southwaite footbridge in Cockermouth and the nearby Lorton Bridge. |
| Rail services were delayed on the West Coast Mainline after heavy rain caused a landslip between Carlisle and Penrith North Lakes stations. | Rail services were delayed on the West Coast Mainline after heavy rain caused a landslip between Carlisle and Penrith North Lakes stations. |
| By 0400 GMT police said floodwater levels in Cockermouth had stabilised, with rescuers able to reach people trapped in their homes by boat. | By 0400 GMT police said floodwater levels in Cockermouth had stabilised, with rescuers able to reach people trapped in their homes by boat. |
| Water levels in Keswick, which was also badly hit, were not expected to rise any further, police added. | Water levels in Keswick, which was also badly hit, were not expected to rise any further, police added. |
| A police spokesman said: "The flood levels have stabilised enough to get boats in which is making the operation a lot easier." | A police spokesman said: "The flood levels have stabilised enough to get boats in which is making the operation a lot easier." |
| He added: "There have been no serious injuries as a result of the floods, just a few people treated at the scene for minor bumps and scrapes." | He added: "There have been no serious injuries as a result of the floods, just a few people treated at the scene for minor bumps and scrapes." |
| 'Raging torrents' | 'Raging torrents' |
| RAF squadron leader Dave Webster said the air search and rescue operation was beginning to wind down, although a helicopter would remain on standby. | RAF squadron leader Dave Webster said the air search and rescue operation was beginning to wind down, although a helicopter would remain on standby. |
| Earlier, up to 20 people were thought to be trapped in their homes in the Main Street area of Cockermouth. | |
| Lifeboat crews helped the RAF and mountain rescue teams to carry out evacuations in the town. | Lifeboat crews helped the RAF and mountain rescue teams to carry out evacuations in the town. |
| The BBC's Alison Freeman saw how the floods in Keswick are being tackled | |
| Don Hindmoor, who was trapped inside a flat, said: "There's three people trapped in a one-bedroom upstairs flat. We've been stuck here all day. | Don Hindmoor, who was trapped inside a flat, said: "There's three people trapped in a one-bedroom upstairs flat. We've been stuck here all day. |
| "We're not in any danger, it's warm enough, we still have electricity and so we're OK where we are for the time being, but there's a lot of people stuck in upstairs flats in this area. | "We're not in any danger, it's warm enough, we still have electricity and so we're OK where we are for the time being, but there's a lot of people stuck in upstairs flats in this area. |
| "It's not just water outside, it's raging torrents. It's like white water rapids." | "It's not just water outside, it's raging torrents. It's like white water rapids." |
| Andy Coon, who was led to safety from his home, said: "At the moment there's Sea King helicopters flying overhead, winching people to safety. | Andy Coon, who was led to safety from his home, said: "At the moment there's Sea King helicopters flying overhead, winching people to safety. |
| "Half the town is in darkness, all you can see is helicopters flying ahead and loads and loads of police and mountain rescue." | "Half the town is in darkness, all you can see is helicopters flying ahead and loads and loads of police and mountain rescue." |
| More than 200 Cockermouth residents spent the night in emergency reception centres. | More than 200 Cockermouth residents spent the night in emergency reception centres. |
| The centres have been opened at Cockermouth School, Keswick Convention Centre, Southey Street Methodist Hall and Skiddaw Hotel. | |
| 'Wettest ever' | |
| David Falcon, of the Environment Agency, said: "It is an improving situation across the county as most of our river levels are falling, albeit slowly. | |
| "The outlook for today is pretty good as it is just showers, our only concern at present is the rainfall that is forecast for tomorrow. | |
| "About 40mm is predicted, which is nothing like the levels experienced over the past 48 hours, but of course it is falling on saturated ground." | |
| Hundreds rescued from flood town Eyewitness: Cockermouth floods | |
| Four severe flood warnings remain in place on rivers in Cockermouth, Keswick and Eamont Bridge. | Four severe flood warnings remain in place on rivers in Cockermouth, Keswick and Eamont Bridge. |
| The rain gauge at Seathwaite registered 314mm (12.4in) in 24 hours. | |
| Environment Minister Hilary Benn, who is now in Cockermouth, said it may have "the wettest day ever recorded" in the county and that many defences built after the floods of 2005 had not been able to withstand the downpour. | |
| He said: "What we dealt with last night was probably more like one-in-a-1,000 flood, so even the very best defences, if you have such quantities of rain in such a short space of time, can be over-topped." | |
| United Utilities said about 1,200 people were still without power across Cumbria, though electricity has been restored to 660 properties. | United Utilities said about 1,200 people were still without power across Cumbria, though electricity has been restored to 660 properties. |
| Several major roads are closed, including parts of the A591, the A6 and the A595. | Several major roads are closed, including parts of the A591, the A6 and the A595. |
| Scores of police officers and mountain rescue volunteers helped evacuate others in the town, where the River Derwent burst its banks. | Scores of police officers and mountain rescue volunteers helped evacuate others in the town, where the River Derwent burst its banks. |
| Are you in one of the flooded areas? What are conditions like where you live? Send us your comments and pictures. | Are you in one of the flooded areas? What are conditions like where you live? Send us your comments and pictures. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |