Floods as a month's rain falls in one day

A month's rain fell in one day in parts of England and Scotland overnight, causing serious flooding in many areas.

Emergency services were called out as heavy downpours affected southern Scotland, parts of north west England and south Wales.

Flooding forced the West Coast Main Line to close between Cumbria and Glasgow, Virgin Trains said.

But forecasters said the worst was over, and conditions were expected to improve today.

The worst-affected area was Keswick in Cumbria, where 82mm (3.2 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours.

Brendan Jones from the PA WeatherCentre said: "Many areas in Wales, north west England and Scotland have seen up to the average monthly rainfall in a 24-hour period. Today is the last day when we are going to see the severe rain. The general outlook for tomorrow onwards is much better conditions just about everywhere."

Some 54mm (2.1 inches) of rain fell in Edinburgh yesterday and overnight, exceeding the October average. The monthly expected total was also exceeded in Aberdeen, where 45mm (1.8 inches) fell in 24 hours.

Milford Haven in south Wales was badly affected. Some 97mm (3.8 inches) of rain fell during the day yesterday, and 15mm (0.6 inches) overnight, well exceeding the monthly expected average.

The Environment Agency said none of the rivers in the affected areas had burst their banks.

A spokeswoman said: "There have been some incidents of localised flooding of homes caused by surface water. We are monitoring the situation."

The flooding came as the Environment Agency revealed today that too many people are ignoring flood risks with alarming levels of complacency among households threatened by river or sea swamping.

The Agency said five million people in two million properties in England and Wales live in flood risk areas, yet despite this, research indicated that as many as two fifths (41%) of these people were still unaware of the threat.

Virgin Trains said it did not know when the train service was likely to be re-opened, and said there was no replacement bus service because of the flooding.

A spokesman said: "There is, as yet, no estimate of when the line will re-open, and in the meantime, passengers travelling between England and Scotland are advised to travel by GNER services over the East Coast Main Line to and from London King's Cross.

Customers were advised to contact National Rail Enquiries for the latest information on 08457 48 49 50.

Police said some families in Cumbria who had only just moved back in after the January floods were caught out last night.

Some residents of Warwick Road, one of the worst-affected areas earlier this year, had been hit by flood water again, said Chief Inspector Kevin McGilloway from Cumbria Police.

"You can imagine what it was like for people who have just moved back into their houses," he said. "It's those at the top end of Warwick Road, nearest to the M6, who have been hit again."

"We're all staring at the sky with our fingers crossed at the moment."

He said emergency shelters set up last night for families evacuated from their houses had not been required.

He said police were asking people to drive slowly in affected areas.

"What is often the problem is flooded roads and people drive up the road and flood down the pathways."

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