Storm Gerrit: Floods warnings issued as trains disrupted

People are being told to avoid using low-lying footpaths

Overnight flood warnings have been issued amid heavy rain caused by Storm Gerrit.

Flooding is expected on low-lying land across Cumbria and Northumberland.

The River Rede in Northumberland is expected to peak at 00:00 GMT on Thursday.

The Environment Agency said it is monitoring water levels and weather conditions, and is warning people not to walk, cycle or drive through flood water.

Flood warnings, which are the second highest level of alert, are in place around the River Eden at Carlisle.

There is also a flood warning for Keswick Campsite, around the River Greta, River Derwent and Derwent Water lake.

Avanti West Coast services were delayed due to flooded railway lines

Flooding caused by Storm Gerrit has also led to train services being disrupted.

All lines between Carlisle, in Cumbria, and Lockerbie, in Scotland, were blocked on Wednesday morning due to the flooding across all lines.

Trains running from Newcastle and Berwick heading towards Edinburgh have also been disrupted due to the bad weather.

National Rail said: "As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised."

Avanti West Coast said: "Do not travel north of Preston [on Wednesday]. Continued heavy rainfall as a result of Storm Gerrit is expected for the remainder of the day."

Due to the "severe weather" Avanti West Coast tickets are not being accepted by other operators but those with tickets for travel between Preston and Edinburgh or Glasgow can use their tickets on 28 December or 29 December.

Snow covers a train station in Greenock, in Inverclyde, Scotland

Train services have also been impacted across parts of north-east England.

National Rail said: "The line between Edinburgh and Newcastle is also disrupted if you are considering your options for onward travel from Edinburgh."

It added that services were expected to be disrupted until the end of the day.

LNER services have been impacted by "heavy rain flooding the railway between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh", meaning services may be cancelled or delayed.

'Busy day'

A yellow rain and snow warning is in place until 23:59 GMT across much of Scotland because of Storm Gerrit.

The north-west of England is subject to yellow warnings for wind, according to the Met Office.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: "Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as [it] is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas."