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| Floods body is missing policeman | Floods body is missing policeman |
| (41 minutes 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. | |
| 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 directing 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. | |
| 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 Essential weather information In pictures: flooding rescues | Pc Bill Barker was swept off a bridge in Workington Essential weather information In pictures: flooding rescues |
| The force said Pc Barker had been called to the scene with a colleague to try and protect members of the public who were putting themselves in danger by being on the bridge. | |
| 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." | |
| 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." | |
| Power cuts | Power cuts |
| The Met Office said rainfall in parts of Cumbria had been some of the heaviest on record. | |
| Helicopter footage of Cumbria shows the extent of the floods which have hit the area | Helicopter footage of Cumbria shows the extent of the floods which have hit the area |
| 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". |
| About 200 people have had to be rescued in the town of Cockermouth. | |
| 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 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Eyewitness: Cockermouth floods | Eyewitness: Cockermouth floods |
| "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. |
| 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 Cockermouth were more than 2.5m (8ft 2in). | |
| Saturated ground | Saturated ground |
| Lifeboat crews helped the RAF and mountain rescue teams to carry out evacuations in the town. | |
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| 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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