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Flood residents braced for deluges

21 Nov 2009


The emergency services are searching homes as residents braced themselves for more rain after England's wettest day on record caused chaos, flooding homes, sweeping away bridges and claiming the life of a policeman.

The "Biblical" downpour over Cumbria was the highest level of rainfall measured in England since records began, forecasters said, with 314mm - more than one foot of rain - falling in 24 hours.

Locals feared further downpours could set the situation back to square one with 30mm of rainfall expected along with strong gales.

River levels were falling but four severe flood warnings remained in place across the county.

A thorough search of houses affected by the flooding began at first light on the third day of the rescue operation.

With 11 bridges in the area still closed because of fast flowing flood waters, members of the public were being asked not to put themselves in danger.

Walkers were also being asked to avoid the fells as mountain rescue teams assisted in rescuing people from homes in Cockermouth and Keswick.

Pc Bill Barker, who would have been celebrating his 45th birthday on Saturday, was killed as he directed motorists away from Northside bridge in Workington.

He disappeared into the swollen waters of the River Derwent as the bridge collapsed.

The officer, from Egremont, served with Cumbria Police for 25 years and leaves a wife, Hazel, and four children.

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