Last updated 11:56, Thursday, 11 September 2008

HEAVY rain this weekend is set to make matters worse for people living in a flooded south Ulverston community.

• View a slideshow of pictures

7/9/08 - In convoy, slowly negotiating the north road into Millom, near The Knottdespite the armco barrier, and the huge gap is still unfenced. HOWARD SHIMMIN REF: 0448774

The back street adjoining Steel Street and North Lonsdale Road in South Ulverston has been under three inches of rain water for the past three days, and heavy showers scheduled for today and tomorrow have left some residents worried.

The streets form a notorious flood plain that has plagued householders for years and wet weather over the summer months has seen the problem re-emerge.

Resident Carl Fine, 64, of North Lonsdale Road, said: “Our back street has been three inches deep with water for the past three days and it has been a recurring problem for the last seven or eight years.

“If the weather forecast is right, then I imagine there are a few people on this street that are very worried about this weekend.”

A flood wall was erected to stop rain water flowing on to the streets from nearby Cross Lane Field, and residents have received promises from The Environment Agency that no future developments should be built on the field so that the flood risk would not be increased.

Residents have raised concerns over a blocked drain system and disused blocked becks, which are thought to contribute to the flooding following prolonged wet spells.

Mr Fine said: “It’s a serious problem that stems back to when the becks were filled for development, which has disrupted the water flow back out to sea.

“We have an 88-year-old woman on our street who can’t even get out of her back gate because she is lame and the water is that deep.

“We feel that we’ve had an unfair deal from the council in this part of Ulverston. The roads are full of ruts and bumps and even when this water eventually evaporates there will be water left in these holes.”

Heavy rain will continue throughout the weekend with the heaviest showers expected today. Showers are set to continue tomorrow but to a lesser extent.

The Environment Agency has yet to give any notification of coastal flood threats, but has warned that flooding on roads and usual flood plains is likely.

In May this year the agency reminded Cumbrian householders that the risk of flooding is never far away, urging every households, and businesses to check flood risks by calling Floodline on 0845 9881188 or using the online postcode checker at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood

It was set to rain persistently today with heavy showers until around 4pm, with winds reaching 25mph at 1pm.

Rain in Furness will be less torrential on Sunday with winds slowing, but temperatures dropping to 11 degrees Celsius at night.

The wet weather has already made an impact on events scheduled to take place over the weekend.

Lowick fair organisers were left with no choice but to postpone the event – which was scheduled to take place today – in advance because the midweek downpours swamped areas of land.

But in spite of the horrendous weather, the Westmorland Agricultural Society has said that its Westmorland County Show will definitely go ahead on Thursday at Lane Farm, Crooklands in Kendal.

Additional precautions have been taken and, as well as the existing hard road network around the site, there will be miles of protective trackway laid down to cope with traffic and to ensure the safety of both exhibitors and visitors. Poor conditions are expected in Kendal today with heavy rainfall between 10am and 1pm and showers throughout. But the outlook for Thursday’s show is promising.

Many sporting fixtures have already been called off over the weekend.

Don't forget to visit our photosales site