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| Floods body is missing policeman | Floods body is missing policeman |
| (4 days later) | |
| The body found after a bridge collapsed when major floods struck across Cumbria has been confirmed as a policeman who was swept away while directing traffic. | The body found after a bridge collapsed when major floods struck across Cumbria has been confirmed as a policeman who was swept away while directing traffic. |
| Pc Bill Barker, 44, fell into the River Derwent when the A597 bridge was destroyed by floods in Workington. | Pc Bill Barker, 44, fell into the River Derwent when the A597 bridge was destroyed by floods in Workington. |
| Cumbria Police said father-of-four Pc Barker had been helping motorists off the bridge when it collapsed. | Cumbria Police said father-of-four Pc Barker had been helping motorists off the bridge when it collapsed. |
| He had been an officer with the force for 25 years and would have celebrated his 45th birthday on Saturday. | He had been an officer with the force for 25 years and would have celebrated his 45th birthday on Saturday. |
| Cumbria Police chief constable Craig Mackey said: "It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that the body found on a beach at Allonby this afternoon is that of our friend and colleague Pc Bill Barker." | Cumbria Police chief constable Craig Mackey said: "It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that the body found on a beach at Allonby this afternoon is that of our friend and colleague Pc Bill Barker." |
| Pc Bill Barker was swept off a bridge in Workington Tributes to flood death Pc Essential weather information In pictures: flooding rescues | Pc Bill Barker was swept off a bridge in Workington Tributes to flood death Pc Essential weather information In pictures: flooding rescues |
| Pc Barker had been called to the scene with a colleague to try to protect members of the public. | Pc Barker had been called to the scene with a colleague to try to protect members of the public. |
| Eyewitness Brendan Pickering was turned away from the bridge, which is thought to have carried gas pipes, moments before it collapsed. | Eyewitness Brendan Pickering was turned away from the bridge, which is thought to have carried gas pipes, moments before it collapsed. |
| He said: "....The young police lady shouted 'Come off the bridge'. Just as we turned round a full section of the bridge went." | |
| "When I looked over I could still see the police lights flashing. Just at that the young lass said 'Can you come off the bridge right away', and I could smell a wrench of gas - it was unbelievable." | "When I looked over I could still see the police lights flashing. Just at that the young lass said 'Can you come off the bridge right away', and I could smell a wrench of gas - it was unbelievable." |
| Mr Pickering said he was helping police to stop traffic driving onto the bridge when he heard one say: "One of our officers has gone in." | Mr Pickering said he was helping police to stop traffic driving onto the bridge when he heard one say: "One of our officers has gone in." |
| The Prime Minister is among those who have paid tribute to Pc Barker, calling him a "heroic, very brave man who died trying to save the lives of others". | The Prime Minister is among those who have paid tribute to Pc Barker, calling him a "heroic, very brave man who died trying to save the lives of others". |
| The Met Office said rainfall in parts of Cumbria had been some of the heaviest on record. | The Met Office said rainfall in parts of Cumbria had been some of the heaviest on record. |
| Workington man Brendan Pickering saw the bridge collapse, killing Pc Barker | Workington man Brendan Pickering saw the bridge collapse, killing Pc Barker |
| Up to 1,000 properties are thought to have been flooded across the county, according to the Environment Agency, which has received more than 12,000 calls from members of the public. | Up to 1,000 properties are thought to have been flooded across the county, according to the Environment Agency, which has received more than 12,000 calls from members of the public. |
| A spokesman described the deluge as "a one-in-a-thousand-year flood". | A spokesman described the deluge as "a one-in-a-thousand-year flood". |
| Up to 500 people are estimated to be in emergency shelters, with Cockermouth and Keswick the hardest hit. | Up to 500 people are estimated to be in emergency shelters, with Cockermouth and Keswick the hardest hit. |
| Rescuers worked through the night to reach people who were trapped in their homes. | Rescuers worked through the night to reach people who were trapped in their homes. |
| The RAF, RNLI, mountain rescue teams and emergency services, helped move about 200 people from Cockermouth after parts of the town were left more than 2.5m (8ft 2in) under water. | The RAF, RNLI, mountain rescue teams and emergency services, helped move about 200 people from Cockermouth after parts of the town were left more than 2.5m (8ft 2in) under water. |
| The first thing obviously is to make sure that people are looked after immediately Hilary Benn, Environment Minister Blog by Cockermouth resident and BBC North East Political Editor Richard Moss | The first thing obviously is to make sure that people are looked after immediately Hilary Benn, Environment Minister Blog by Cockermouth resident and BBC North East Political Editor Richard Moss |
| Cockermouth School has been housing 110 evacuees and the Sheep and Wool Centre in the town accommodated 100 people. | Cockermouth School has been housing 110 evacuees and the Sheep and Wool Centre in the town accommodated 100 people. |
| More than 50 people rescued in Keswick have been taken to the town's convention centre, Skiddaw Hotel and St Joseph's school. | More than 50 people rescued in Keswick have been taken to the town's convention centre, Skiddaw Hotel and St Joseph's school. |
| Police have warned people to stay away from bridges after water pressure also destroyed the Southwaite footbridge in Cockermouth and the nearby Lorton Bridge. | Police have warned people to stay away from bridges after water pressure also destroyed the Southwaite footbridge in Cockermouth and the nearby Lorton Bridge. |
| Cumbria County Council has reported the bridge at Braithwaite in Keswick as collapsed, with water being diverted by rubble across the A66. | Cumbria County Council has reported the bridge at Braithwaite in Keswick as collapsed, with water being diverted by rubble across the A66. |
| More than 1,400 homes are without power in the county, several major roads are closed and more than 70 schools have been shut. | More than 1,400 homes are without power in the county, several major roads are closed and more than 70 schools have been shut. |
| Environment Minister Hilary Benn, who visited Cockermouth on Friday, said the prime minister had pledged to do everything possible to help. | Environment Minister Hilary Benn, who visited Cockermouth on Friday, said the prime minister had pledged to do everything possible to help. |
| Eyewitness: Cockermouth floods | Eyewitness: Cockermouth floods |
| He said: "The first thing obviously is to make sure that people are looked after immediately. | He said: "The first thing obviously is to make sure that people are looked after immediately. |
| "Secondly the regional development agency, with government funding, has announced a contribution of £1m to support businesses that have been affected. | "Secondly the regional development agency, with government funding, has announced a contribution of £1m to support businesses that have been affected. |
| "My cabinet colleague John Denham activated the emergency funding rules to help local authorities with the cost of the clean-up this morning. So we have done that straight away." | "My cabinet colleague John Denham activated the emergency funding rules to help local authorities with the cost of the clean-up this morning. So we have done that straight away." |
| RAF squadron leader Dave Webster said the air search and rescue operation aiding people in towns including Keswick and Cockermouth was beginning to wind down, although a helicopter would remain on standby. | RAF squadron leader Dave Webster said the air search and rescue operation aiding people in towns including Keswick and Cockermouth was beginning to wind down, although a helicopter would remain on standby. |
| Cumbria Police has opened a casualty bureau, for members of the public to telephone should they have any concerns regarding relatives, friends and family involved in the flooding incident. | Cumbria Police has opened a casualty bureau, for members of the public to telephone should they have any concerns regarding relatives, friends and family involved in the flooding incident. |
| Firefighters and RNLI personnel rescued people from their homes | Firefighters and RNLI personnel rescued people from their homes |
| But the Environment Agency said the situation across the county was beginning to improve with most river levels slowly falling. | But the Environment Agency said the situation across the county was beginning to improve with most river levels slowly falling. |
| Spokesman David Falcon said: "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. | Spokesman David Falcon said: "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." | "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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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