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Brown's pledge to flood victims Brown's pledge to flood victims
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the government is doing all it can to help flood victims in Cumbria to return home as quickly as possible.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the government is doing all it can to help flood victims in Cumbria to return home as quickly as possible.
He was urged by Conservative leader David Cameron to ensure that everything possible was done.He was urged by Conservative leader David Cameron to ensure that everything possible was done.
Mr Brown told MPs that military engineers were assessing whether they could put a temporary pedestrian bridge across the River Derwent.Mr Brown told MPs that military engineers were assessing whether they could put a temporary pedestrian bridge across the River Derwent.
He pledged that the government would fund road and bridge repairs.He pledged that the government would fund road and bridge repairs.
Speaking at prime minister's questions, Mr Brown paid tribute to Pc Bill Barker, who died in the floods, and to members of the armed services and emergency workers who had been dealing with the aftermath.Speaking at prime minister's questions, Mr Brown paid tribute to Pc Bill Barker, who died in the floods, and to members of the armed services and emergency workers who had been dealing with the aftermath.
He said those affected by the floods would "have our support, now and into the future".He said those affected by the floods would "have our support, now and into the future".
Mr Brown said 40 people were believed to be in temporary accommodation.Mr Brown said 40 people were believed to be in temporary accommodation.
HOMES AFFECTED Cockermouth: 885Keswick: 240Workington: 66Ulverston: 30Kendal and Burneside: 20 Source: Environment Agency Woman's body found in river Railway station to reconnect town Can you stop bridges collapsing? BBC Cumbria: Flood latestHOMES AFFECTED Cockermouth: 885Keswick: 240Workington: 66Ulverston: 30Kendal and Burneside: 20 Source: Environment Agency Woman's body found in river Railway station to reconnect town Can you stop bridges collapsing? BBC Cumbria: Flood latest
Talks with the insurance industry are under way to ensure people are either able to return home or given alternative housing. Talks with the insurance industry were under way to ensure people were either able to return home or be given alternative housing.
Mr Brown said legislation to improve flood management would be brought before the Commons before Christmas.Mr Brown said legislation to improve flood management would be brought before the Commons before Christmas.
Mr Cameron joined in paying tribute to Pc Barker, who was swept away when a bridge in Workington collapsed on Friday.Mr Cameron joined in paying tribute to Pc Barker, who was swept away when a bridge in Workington collapsed on Friday.
Cumbria escaped fresh flooding overnight as river levels started to fall.Cumbria escaped fresh flooding overnight as river levels started to fall.
The Environment Agency said water levels in the region peaked at 0300 GMT on Wednesday.
Structural checksStructural checks
There are 13 flood warnings in place in the area, mainly around Keswick and Cockermouth. Showers are forecast. The Environment Agency said there are four flood warnings in place in Cumbria at Derwentwater in Keswick; the River Eamont; and at Low Crosby and Carlisle on the River Eden.
There is a flood watch on the River Derwent at Workington.
Across England and Wales a total of 13 warnings have been issued. In Scotland, there are six warnings.
FLOOD ADVICE Cumbria Police casualty bureau: 0800 0560944 or 0207 1580010Floodline number 0845 988 1188 Cumbria County Council - road and bridge closures What to do if floods hit BBC Cumbria: Flood latest Environment Agency (England and Wales) Scottish Environment Protection Agency BBC Weather The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites FLOOD ADVICE Cumbria Police casualty bureau: 0800 0560944 or 0207 1580010Floodline number 0845 988 1188 Cumbria County Council - road and bridge closures What to do if floods hit BBC Cumbria: Flood latest Environment Agency (England and Wales) Scottish Environment Protection Agency BBC Weather The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
The possible collapse of the Calva Bridge into the River Derwent in Workington threatens to knock out up to 2,000 telephone lines. High tide is expected at the bridge at 1715 Wednesday.
The bridge has slipped by more than 1ft (30cm) since last week.
Cumbria County Council, which maintains some 1,800 bridges, said teams of engineers were doing visual checks on them.Cumbria County Council, which maintains some 1,800 bridges, said teams of engineers were doing visual checks on them.
A spokesman said the engineers would have to wait for the waters to recede before full structural checks could be carried out. A spokesman said they would have to wait for the waters to recede before full structural checks could be carried out.
The Calva Bridge over the River Derwent - which normally links the north and south sides of Workington - has slipped by more than 1ft (30cm) since last week. High tide is due there at 1715.
The county's chief area engineer, Jim Smith said: "My money would be on the fact that this bridge will either collapse or need to be demolished.
"The bridge foundations have washed away and that has resulted in it actually dropping.
"There's a dip in the handrail and street lighting columns are leaning over by 15 to 20 degrees."
Mr Smith said the Royal Engineers had been measuring a possible site for a footbridge upstream of the Calva Bridge.
The Highways Agency said it had checked the 90 bridges for which it is responsible in the county - on the M6, A66, A590 and part of the A595 - and they were all sound.The Highways Agency said it had checked the 90 bridges for which it is responsible in the county - on the M6, A66, A590 and part of the A595 - and they were all sound.
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Keith Lumley, Network Rail, is overseeing the temporary station projectKeith Lumley, Network Rail, is overseeing the temporary station project
A temporary railway station is being built on the north side of the river to reconnect the two halves of Workington via the existing station on the south side.A temporary railway station is being built on the north side of the river to reconnect the two halves of Workington via the existing station on the south side.
Swept awaySwept away
The two-platform station, linked by a footbridge, should be ready by the weekend.The two-platform station, linked by a footbridge, should be ready by the weekend.
After the collapse of Northside Bridge, in which fibre optic and copper cables were swept away, BT engineers have begun installing a network using a nearby railway bridge.After the collapse of Northside Bridge, in which fibre optic and copper cables were swept away, BT engineers have begun installing a network using a nearby railway bridge.
They expect to restore phone services to about 1,500 homes in the Flimby, Siddick and north Workington areas by Friday night.They expect to restore phone services to about 1,500 homes in the Flimby, Siddick and north Workington areas by Friday night.
BT says it will soon start tunnelling beneath the River Derwent to provide a new route for cables threatened by the possible collapse of the Calva Bridge.BT says it will soon start tunnelling beneath the River Derwent to provide a new route for cables threatened by the possible collapse of the Calva Bridge.
In Cockermouth, the company has been cleaning the underground network and has laid on temporary phones for businesses which have been forced to relocate.In Cockermouth, the company has been cleaning the underground network and has laid on temporary phones for businesses which have been forced to relocate.
The Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend John Sentamu, was due to inspect flood damage in Workington and Keswick and meet local people.The Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend John Sentamu, was due to inspect flood damage in Workington and Keswick and meet local people.
The Environment Agency has 22 flood warnings and 74 flood watches in place in England and Wales.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said there were six flood warnings and 19 flood watches in place in the country.
CUMBRIA BRIDGE PROBLEMS Collapsed Bridges: 1. Northside Bridge, Workington 2. Navvies Footbridge, Workington 3. Camerton Footbridge, Camerton 4. Memorial Gardens footbridge, Cockermouth 5. Low Lorton Bridge 6. Little Braithwaite BridgeClosed bridges: 7. Calva Bridge, Workington 8. Gote Bridge, Cockermouth 9.Holmrook Bridge, Holmrook 10. Ouse Bridge, north of Dubwath 11. Isel Bridge, near Cockermouth 12. Cocker Bridge, Cockermouth 13. Southwaite Bridge 14. Broughton Bridge 15. Bridge End, Egremont 16. Backbarrow Bridge (off A590) 17. Bouthrey Bridge, Water Yeat 18. Station Road Bridge, Keswick 19. Scarness Bridge, Keswick 20. Scale Hill Bridge, Scale Hill 21. Greta Bridge, Keswick 22. Wath Bridge, Cleator Moor23. Butt Bridge, Ennerdale 24. Studholme Bridge Source: Cumbria County Council, 25 NovemberCUMBRIA BRIDGE PROBLEMS Collapsed Bridges: 1. Northside Bridge, Workington 2. Navvies Footbridge, Workington 3. Camerton Footbridge, Camerton 4. Memorial Gardens footbridge, Cockermouth 5. Low Lorton Bridge 6. Little Braithwaite BridgeClosed bridges: 7. Calva Bridge, Workington 8. Gote Bridge, Cockermouth 9.Holmrook Bridge, Holmrook 10. Ouse Bridge, north of Dubwath 11. Isel Bridge, near Cockermouth 12. Cocker Bridge, Cockermouth 13. Southwaite Bridge 14. Broughton Bridge 15. Bridge End, Egremont 16. Backbarrow Bridge (off A590) 17. Bouthrey Bridge, Water Yeat 18. Station Road Bridge, Keswick 19. Scarness Bridge, Keswick 20. Scale Hill Bridge, Scale Hill 21. Greta Bridge, Keswick 22. Wath Bridge, Cleator Moor23. Butt Bridge, Ennerdale 24. Studholme Bridge Source: Cumbria County Council, 25 November
Do you live in a flooded area? What are conditions like where you are? Send us your stories and pictures.Do you live in a flooded area? What are conditions like where you are? Send us your stories and pictures.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here.
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