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Floods body is missing policeman | Floods body is missing policeman |
(10 minutes later) | |
The body found after a bridge collapsed when major floods struck across Cumbria has been confirmed as a missing police officer. | The body found after a bridge collapsed when major floods struck across Cumbria has been confirmed as a missing police officer. |
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 Pc Barker, a father-of-four, had been directing motorists off the bridge when it collapsed. | Cumbria Police said Pc Barker, a father-of-four, had been directing motorists off the bridge when it collapsed. |
He had been an officer with the force for 25 years. | He had been an officer with the force for 25 years. |
Pc Bill Barker was swept off a bridge in Workington Essential weather information In pictures: flooding rescues | Pc Bill Barker was swept off a bridge in Workington Essential weather information In pictures: flooding rescues |
Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham said: "I'm very sad to have to report we've recovered a body on the beach. | Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham said: "I'm very sad to have to report we've recovered a body on the beach. |
"Constable Barker was called to the bridge with a colleague to try and protect members of the public who were putting themselves in danger by being on the bridge. | "Constable Barker was called to the bridge with a colleague to try and protect members of the public who were putting themselves in danger by being on the bridge. |
"Unfortunately when they were on the bridge, the bridge gave way and he went into the water." | "Unfortunately when they were on the bridge, the bridge gave way and he went into the water." |
But locals in Workington said Pc Barker had gone to the aid of a car on the bridge. | But locals in Workington said Pc Barker had gone to the aid of a car on the bridge. |
Robin Taylor, 50, a maintenance engineer from the town, said: "I have lived here for 28 years and I've never seen anything like this. | Robin Taylor, 50, a maintenance engineer from the town, said: "I have lived here for 28 years and I've never seen anything like this. |
"I was told the police officer had responded to an emergency call and gone to the bridge to help a car that had become stuck and, as he was leading them away, the pavement side of the bridge collapsed first and he was gone. | "I was told the police officer had responded to an emergency call and gone to the bridge to help a car that had become stuck and, as he was leading them away, the pavement side of the bridge collapsed first and he was gone. |
"It is really sad, I thought it was absolutely shocking. | "It is really sad, I thought it was absolutely shocking. |
Helicopter footage of Cumbria shows the extent of the floods which have hit the area | |
The Met Office said rainfall in some parts of Cumbria had been some of the heaviest on record. | The Met Office said rainfall in some parts of Cumbria had been some of the heaviest on record. |
About 200 people have had to be rescued in the nearby town of Cockermouth. | About 200 people have had to be rescued in the nearby town of Cockermouth. |
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". |
Officers warned people to stay away from bridges after water pressure also destroyed the Southwaite footbridge in Cockermouth and the nearby Lorton Bridge. | Officers 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 also reported the bridge at Braithwaite in Keswick as collapsed, with water being diverted by rubble across the A66. | Cumbria County Council has also reported the bridge at Braithwaite in Keswick as collapsed, with water being diverted by rubble across the A66. |
The council said more than 250 people were sheltering in rescue centres in Cockermouth and Keswick. | The council said more than 250 people were sheltering in rescue centres in Cockermouth and Keswick. |
More than 1,400 homes were also without power in the county. | More than 1,400 homes were also without power in the county. |
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 |
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. |
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." |
Rescuers worked through the night to reach by boat people who were trapped in their homes. | Rescuers worked through the night to reach by boat people who were trapped in their homes. |
Eyewitness: Cockermouth floods | Eyewitness: Cockermouth floods |
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. |
Water levels in some parts of the town centre were more than 2.5m (8ft 2in). | Water levels in some parts of the town centre were more than 2.5m (8ft 2in). |
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. |
'Wettest ever' | 'Wettest ever' |
Cumbria Police 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 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. |
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. |
Firefighters and RNLI personnel rescued people from their homes | Firefighters and RNLI personnel rescued people from their homes |
"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. |
Several major roads are closed and more than 70 schools have been shut, Cumbria County Council said. | Several major roads are closed and more than 70 schools have been shut, Cumbria County Council said. |
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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