Last updated 13:27, Monday, 12 January 2009

THE storms which devastated parts of Cumbria four years ago could become a common occurrence by 2070.

Cumbria and the North West will be plagued by severe weather and the amount of rain falling is likely to increase by up to 60 per cent, according to research from Newcastle University.

If Dr Hayley Fowler’s study proves correct, Cumbria will regularly turn into a waterworld, potentially causing millions of pounds of damage and leaving thousands homeless.

Dr Fowler examined seasonal rainfall from nine regions across the UK.

She found that, due to global warming, the air will get warmer and therefore hold more moisture which it will subsequently release as rain, which means a wetter Britain.

Dr Fowler said: “We have created a more accurate picture of how wet Britain will be by 2070. What the data shows is that we’re going to see far more of these extreme downpours in years to come, putting more and more homes at risk from flooding, particularly in autumn and winter when the ground is already saturated. Floods will no longer be freak events.”

Although the whole country will be affected, the north and western regions of the UK look set to be the worst hit.

Dr Fowler called for the government to step up its flood-risk management. She said: “We need to be looking now at where we build new homes, drainage systems and water storage in order to protect our homes and businesses.”

The floods which hit Carlisle in 2005 affected nearly 2,000 homes and businesses. About 60,000 homes lost their electricity supply after the equivalent of two months of rain fell over a couple of days.