HUNDREDS of homes were flooded yesterday after torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks.
With the downpour predicted to continue overnight, the Environment Agency warned that more properties were at risk from the rising floodwater.
Rain battered parts of northern England, north-west Wales and western Scotland on Wednesday night and yesterday.
Worst hit was Cumbria, where main roads were blocked, 21 schools were closed, and scores of people had to flee their homes and take shelter in emergency evacuation centres. The Met Office said the village of Seathwaite, in Cumbria, recorded 6.8in (173mm) of rain in 24 hours.
Another 5.9in (150mm) could fall on the Lake District’s higher fells by midday today.
Flooding was also reported in north-west Wales and in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.
The rain was accompanied by severe gales, with gusts of 65mph to 75mph in western coastal areas and up to 95mph over the mountains.
