Flooding in Cumbria: Clear-up begins as rain continues

The clear-up has begun in Cumbria after some 40 homes were flooded due to torrential rain.

Honister Pass saw more than 30cm (12in) in a 24-hour period, with roads blocked and rail services disrupted.

One of the affected premises, Keswick Rugby Club, said the water had gone but games this weekend were cancelled.

However, with rain continuing to fall, motorists are warned that some roads are only passable with care, and people should only travel if it is essential.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning, meaning some disruption is possible, and the Environment Agency has six flood warnings (where flooding is expected) and 9 flood alerts (where it is possible) in place on Friday evening.

While it is believed Cumbria is over the worst of the weather, people are being warned to remain vigilant for the next few days, because the ground is now saturated.

Catherine Evans, from the Environment Agency, said: "We are looking ahead to Sunday into Monday and we are expecting some more rain then.

"It's a bit too early to say exactly what that means to Cumbria but we are really urging people to stay aware of what is going on."

Keswick Rugby Club's pitch and clubhouse were among the premises flooded on Thursday.

Chairman Allan Lambert said: "We spent a couple of hours yesterday clearing it out.

"It's now clear of water, and we can start on the drying out and preparations for opening again, but there will be no rugby here this weekend."

George Cherian, who runs the Honest Lawyer bar and restaurant in Keswick, said the flooding had put future plans for the business at risk.

"We'll see what happens, just what the damage is going to cost, and then we'll take it from there," he said.

"The main thing is getting the water out of the building and then using the dehumidifiers for the water which is inside the walls.

"We were going to renovate, give a modern look to the restaurant, but that's all on hold at the minute."

Water levels were high in Cockermouth, a town which has been badly hit in the past, but for some residents the flood defences installed in the wake of Storm Desmond in 2015 worked.

Sarah Peck, whose home had previously been flooded twice, has a bund, or reef, around the lower part of her garden.

She said: "If we hadn't have had that, [the water] would have been in the house without doubt.

"We had at least two foot of water being held back by the mound."

Volunteers from Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team helped bring some who were trapped by the high water, including two holidaymakers and their dog, to safety.

Tom Durcan from the group said the situation had now eased.

"Although the river levels are still high, and it's still raining, they are continuing to drop gently so we're hoping by today we are going to have passed the worst of it," he said.

"I'd say if you haven't been flooded by now, then you probably won't be - but it's not an exact science."

Elsewhere in the UK, heavy rain has caused flooding in Devon and Cornwall and washed away two footbridges in Scotland.

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