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Cumbria prepares for rain again Flood risk as Cumbria rivers peak
(about 5 hours later)
Residents in Cumbria have been warned to expect a further night of heavy rain and the prospect of more flooding. Cumbria has been warned to expect more flooding after heavy rain raised water levels on already swollen rivers.
Up to 100mm (4in) of rain is expected to fall there overnight, as 24 flood watches are in place across the UK. But the Environment Agency said river levels were expected to peak later, before a spell of drier weather.
Tory leader David Cameron has visited the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth and met people affected by the floods. He said they must not be forgotten. There are still a dozen flood warnings in the region and the possible collapse of a bridge in Workington threatens to knock out up to 2,000 telephone lines.
Dyfed-Powys Police have found the bodies of two women missing since Saturday in rivers 50 miles apart. Transport Minister Sadiq Khan is to visit parts of the county worst hit by last week's record rainfall and floods.
One was named by officers as Kirsty Jones, 21, who was swept away in the River Usk, near Watergate Bridge, in Brecon. The Environment Agency said Tuesday's heaviest rain fell between 2100 GMT and midnight, with rivers peaking later on Wednesday, although it was hard to predict where any new flooding would occur.
Her body was discovered six miles downstream in Talybont-on-Usk and police are investigating the circumstances of her death. These pressures actually affect people's health, not just psychologically but physically as well Dr John HowarthCockermouth GP class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8376245.stm">Woman's body found in river class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/8375981.stm">Railway station to reconnect town class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8374616.stm">Can you stop bridges collapsing? class="" href="/local/cumbria/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8374000/8374933.stm">BBC Cumbria: Flood latest
class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8376433.stm">Residents begin clean-up class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/8375739.stm">In pictures: Flood aftermath class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8374616.stm">Can you stop bridges collapsing? class="" href="/local/cumbria/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8374000/8374933.stm">BBC Cumbria: Flood latest A spokesman said: "If it had just come by itself it wouldn't cause us too much concern but because it's falling on saturated ground there's the likelihood of further flooding, but not as extreme as last week.
The body of an 85-year-old woman who was reported missing was found in the River Severn at Newtown. The public has been warned to stay away from flood water and rivers and to follow local advice on road diversions.
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the discovery. Six bridges have already collapsed since last week's deluge, causing widespread transport and logistical problems, and a safety review of all 1,800 crossings is under way.
Meanwhile, there are 11 flood warnings in place in north-west England, seven in Scotland, three in Wales, two in the Midlands and one in north-east England. Road and foot bridges across the River Derwent in Workington remain closed.
And the level of Lough Erne in Northern Ireland reached a record 158ft after days of heavy rain caused widespread flooding and disruption in County Fermanagh.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We're still very concerned about the Cumbria area. Although there has been a lull in the rain this afternoon we're expecting heavy rain tonight between 9pm and 3am.
CASE STUDY By Tom Symonds, BBC News
It was the first day back at school after the floods for Jenson, Chance and Tyler Mitchell. They live in Workington's Northside - the north side of the river that is, which - given the lack of bridges - means it is cut off from the town that local people are used to having on their doorstep.
Maria Mitchell's plan is to drive her children in the opposite direction to the station at Flimby and catch the train. After all, the railway bridge into Workington remains intact.
But the drive, the wait for the train, the journey itself and then the walk to school takes an hour. And if Maria wants to go home while the kids are at school she'll have to do the trip four times a day. The train itself is standing room only.
"I'll be crying by Friday because I can't do this. I'll have to home-school my kids or put them in another school. We need something done about it," says Maria.
"We expect that will lead to further flooding. If it had just come by itself it wouldn't cause us too much concern but because it's falling on saturated ground there's the likelihood of further flooding, but not as extreme as last week.
"After tonight we expect the situation to ease and clear by the end of the week, however it will take a while for the rivers to drop."
In Cockermouth, Mr Cameron spoke to fire crews involved in the rescue effort as well as meeting residents affected by the floods.
He said: "Everyone's got to make sure that when the waters recede and when the television cameras go home that people in Cumbria aren't forgotten, and that we give real help and real money with so many of the issues that need to be dealt with."
In the House of Commons, Health Secretary Andy Burnham praised the work of NHS staff and pledged that the government would provide any extra resources needed.
Network Rail has started to build a temporary railway station to reconnect the two halves of Workington, and says work should be finished by the weekend.
Road and foot bridges across the River Derwent are still closed following flood damage at the weekend but the railway bridge is safe.
Passengers will be able to travel between the new station on the north side of the river and an existing one on the south side, about 800m (0.5 miles) apart.
Bus operator Stagecoach will provide 10 vehicles to take up to 350 children from Seaton, Flimby and Maryport to school in Workington on Wednesday.
In Cumbria as a whole, many schools, bridges and roads remain closed, and there are long diversion routes in place in Workington and other towns.
The closure of Calva Bridge in Workington, which has been condemned to demolition, means people face a lengthy detour to get to the other side of the town.
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
If the bridge collapses, the local authority has said some 11,000 homes north of the river will lose their telephone connections. A temporary railway station is being built on the north side of the river to reconnect the two halves of the town via the existing station on the south side.
But BT insists that between 1,000 and 2,000 lines are at risk and says it has been "working round the clock" to ensure services are restored. The two-platform station, linked by a footbridge, should be ready by the weekend.
The firm says it is currently "exploring options" should the bridge collapse, including ways to re-route telephone and broadband traffic. Bus operator Stagecoach will provide 10 vehicles to take up to 350 children from Seaton, Flimby and Maryport to school in Workington on Wednesday.
The Highways Agency said it did not expect temporary bridges to be in place before Christmas, but Cumbria County Council said it might be able to construct a temporary single-carriageway bridge in Workington before then. In Cockermouth, flood defences are being reinforced with sandbags as experts inspect reservoirs deploying pumping equipment.
Seven bridges have collapsed in the county and a safety review of all 1,800 crossings is under way. Conservative leader David Cameron has visited the town on Tuesday to meet flood-hit residents and fire and rescue crews.
Flood support centres remain open in Cockermouth, Workington and Keswick, offering advice on housing, insurance and other issues. Dr John Howarth, a Cockermouth GP, said the community was under a great amount of stress and needed plenty of support to help people avoid illnesses such as depression.
Hundreds of residents have now returned to their properties to begin a huge clean-up operation. class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8376433.stm">Residents begin clean-up class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/8375739.stm">In pictures: Flood aftermath
"These pressures actually affect people's health, not just psychologically but physically as well," he said.
In the Commons, Health Secretary Andy Burnham praised the work of NHS staff and pledged the government would provide any extra resources needed.
Meanwhile, a 21-year-old woman who went missing on Saturday was found dead in the swollen River Usk in Powys, Wales.

BBC weather36-hour forecast

Forecast published at 0930 GMT, 24 November 2009Latest forecast at BBC weather
An 85-year-old woman's body was discovered in the flooded River Severn at Newtown, also in Powys, but police said that incident was probably not flood-related.
The Environment Agency has 21 flood warnings and 75 flood watches in place in England and Wales.
There are 12 flood warnings in north-west England, four in Wales, two each in the Midlands and north-east England and one in the South West.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said there were six flood warnings and 19 flood watches in place in the country.
Police have appealed to drivers in the south of Scotland to make only essential journeys.
Householders have also been warned to exercise caution when hiring workers to help with repairs and to check their credentials.
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 Bridge 7. Camerton Church Bridge, Camerton Closed bridges: 8. Calva Bridge, Workington 9. Goat Bridge, Cockermouth 10.Holmrook Bridge, Holmrook 11. Ouse Bridge, north of Dubwath 12. Isel Bridge, near Cockermouth 13. Cocker Bridge, Cockermouth 14. Southwaite Bridge 15. Broughton Bridge 16. Bridge End, Egremont 17. Spark Bridge 18. Backbarrow Bridge (off A590) 19. Bouthrey Bridge, Water Yeat 20. Station Road Bridge, Keswick 21. Scarness Bridge, Keswick 22. Scale Hill Bridge, Scale Hill 23. Greta Bridge, Keswick 24. Wath Bridge, Cleator Moor Source: Cumbria County Council, 24 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 Bridge 7. Camerton Church Bridge, Camerton Closed bridges: 8. Calva Bridge, Workington 9. Goat Bridge, Cockermouth 10.Holmrook Bridge, Holmrook 11. Ouse Bridge, north of Dubwath 12. Isel Bridge, near Cockermouth 13. Cocker Bridge, Cockermouth 14. Southwaite Bridge 15. Broughton Bridge 16. Bridge End, Egremont 17. Spark Bridge 18. Backbarrow Bridge (off A590) 19. Bouthrey Bridge, Water Yeat 20. Station Road Bridge, Keswick 21. Scarness Bridge, Keswick 22. Scale Hill Bridge, Scale Hill 23. Greta Bridge, Keswick 24. Wath Bridge, Cleator Moor Source: Cumbria County Council, 24 November
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