HOMES across the county were torn apart yesterday afternoon as Storm Desmond unleashed treacherous weather conditions on Cumbrian people.

Latest

  • There are delays on the A590 both ways at Lindal due to temporary traffic lights.
  • Junction 36 of the M6 is moving and cars are reaching the A590 to continue journeys in Cumbria.
  • Backbarrow has borne the brunt of flooding in the Furness area with astonishing scenes at Whitewater Hotel.
  • Cumbria Fire and Rescue say it's as bad if not worse than previous years.
  • Holiday makers are feeling "lost" as they become trapped in Cumbria with no way out.
  • Major internal incident declared at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust due to power cuts.
  • University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust is cancelling all routine outpatient appointments and most non-urgent elective operations that were scheduled to take place at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General Hospital and Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe tomorrow. Patients who were due to have a non-urgent elective operation today are being asked to ring 01524 516095 to find out whether their operation will be going ahead or not.
  • Fears for missing elderly man seen falling into the swollen waters of the River Kent.
  • Pooley Bridge at Ullswater collapses.

What you need to know 

A590 is open in both directions. Expect delays.

A5074 is just passable between the B5360 junction in Windermere and the Mill Lane junction in Crosthwaite.

A591 in Ambleside is just passable due to flooding.

A591 is just passable between the Stock Lane junction in Grasmere and Back Lane junction in Legburthwaite.

A591 closed between the B5322 Back Lane junction and the Pye Lane junction in Grasmere because of a landslip and flooding.

Askam and Ireleth and Duddon Bridge are passable.

Moderate flooding in Kiln Lane and Hard Knotts Lane near Leece. Many roads throughout the Kendal area are closed.

The story so far

  • Storm Desmond has been declared a major incident and a red weather warning was issued - warning against a potential loss of life.
  • Torrential rain and blustering winds left thousands of people across Cumbria and Morecambe Bay with no power. 
  • People have been evacuated from Kendal, Keswick, Appleby and Cockermouth.
  • Appeals have been launched to find supplies for evacuees and raise money to support flood victims. 
  • Prime minister David Cameron issued a statement of support alongside MPs John Woodcock, Jamie Reed and Tim Farron.
  • Major roads across the county closed due to flooding and all train services have been cancelled.
  • The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Caernarfon was sent to recover four people who had found themselves cut off on the wrong side of a landslide after heavy rainfall at Thirlmere Reservoir. The four people were uninjured and transferred by helicopter to a safer location. The same helicopter was also sent to support Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service by airlifting six people from their flooded bungalow at Pooley Bridge near Ullswater.
  • Following an emergency government meeting, environment secretary Elizabeth Truss said figures from a rain gauge in Honister, Cumbria, suggest a record amount of rain fell in the 24 hours between Friday and Saturday evenings. It measured 341mm, which is more than a month's worth of rainfall in just one day and more than the UK has ever experienced in such a short amount of time.
Kendal Floods 2015 Shap Road

Shap Road, Furmanite and Kendal Cricket Club flooded December 2015. Feel free to like and share (no copyright).

Posted by Hovershotz on Sunday, December 6, 2015

Message from police

Temporary chief constable Michelle Skeer said: "Motorists are urged again not to travel unless it is an emergency and to stay indoors and keep safe. Flood water is dangerous.

"Everyone is advised to stay away from swollen rivers and if you are travelling, check the flood risk before setting off and don’t drive through floodwater.

"Members of the public are continuing to drive through flooded water against our warnings causing more strain on resources from already stretched emergency services.

“We also advise the public not to go near floodwater. Much of this floodwater is fast moving so going near the water is putting yourself and the emergency services in danger.”

Reception centres

Reception centres across the county are being kept open throughout the night and to offer people advice and shelter. Help is available at the following locations.

  • Greystone Community Centre, Carlisle
  • Richard Rose Morton Academy, Carlisle
  • Carlisle Sea Cadets, Nicholson Street Carlisle
  • Trinity Church, Wigton
  • Austin Friars School, Carlisle
  • Yewdale Community Centre, Carlisle
  • Currock Community Centre, Carlisle
  • Cockermouth School
  • Kendal Town Hall
  • Keswick School
  • Cockermouth School

Tomorrow's travel

Test trains from Workington to Barrow (the southern end of the Cumbrian Coast Line) and Barrow to Carnforth are being planned early in the morning to determine whether a normal passenger service will run tomorrow. Passengers are advised to check for train times and cancellations before they leave home. Real time journey updates can be found here .

The northern end of the Cumbrian Coast Line from Workington to Carlisle has suffered significant flood and wind damage and will be closed until Tuesday at least.

Customers who hold tickets dated for this weekend may use them on any day until Monday December 14.

School closures

The Lakes School tweeted tonight that it will be closed tomorrow and will reopen on Tuesday.

St Cuthberts Primary School in Windermere will also be shut due to insufficient staff numbers as a result of the flooding.

Other schools closed include Flookburgh Primary School, Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School, St Martin and St Mary Church of England Primary School and Langdale Primary School.

More on Cumbria's floods - Saturday's events

Cumbria's floods: In pictures