Storm Desmond: Homes left flooded and without power

Summary

Police searching for a missing man find a body in the River Kent near Kendal, in Cumbria
Met Office confirms record rainfall fell on Cumbria in 24 hours - 341.4mm
As many as 5,000 homes in Northern England and southern Scotland flooded
Power has been lost to 42,000 properties in the Lancaster area and more than 1,400 in Cumbria are also without power
Schools closed and hospital services cancelled. Road and rail travel also disrupted
David Cameron has visited the flood-hit region and has chaired an emergency Cobra meeting

Live Reporting

Have your saypublished at 18:10
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Scottish border river 'getting very angry'published at 18:04
The BBC's Catriona Renton is in Hawick, in Scotland.
Quote Message
The weather has deteriorated all afternoon. The River Teviot is getting very angry, it's very swollen, and further down - where we are not allowed to go - the river has burst its banks. Around 100 properties have been evacuated and we are also hearing people in nearby Newcastleton have been evacuated too"
RAC sees 50% spike in breakdown callspublished at 7:53
The RAC says it has received a 50% increase in breakdown calls. Rod Dennis, of the motoring organisation, says the weather has been much worse than expected.
Quote Message
We did anticipate bad weather today. The thing is, it is a very rapidly changing situation. So I think in the last few hours, the situation in Cumbria, has developed very, very quickly indeed and probably taken everybody by surprise, but we are doing absolutely everything we can at the moment to get to people"
The scene in Donegalpublished at 17:46
Parts of Ireland have been affected too. These pictures are from the Ballybofey area of Donegal.
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Emergency vehicles got caught up in the floods
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Sand bags were used to protect local properties
Image source, PA
Image caption,
The army has been helping out
Man 'blown into bus' killed in Londonpublished at 17:26
A 90-year-old man has died after it was believed he was blown into the path of a bus in north London.
Scotland Yard said it was thought he was caught by a gust of wind and blown off the pavement against the side of the bus near Finchley Central station, at about midday.
The statement did not link his death to Storm Desmond.
The man's next-of-kin have been informed.
Full story here
Get in touchpublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2015
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Live flood warning mappublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2015
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Five more severe flood warnings issuedpublished at 17:06
There are now 31 severe flood warnings across the north of England according the Environment Agency., external
The five new warnings affect the Cockermouth area.
National Rail: People can re-use ticketspublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2015
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Cumbria Police: Don't use roadspublished at 16:57
Cumbria Police are urging the public to avoid all roads in and around Kendal due to severe weather and road surface flooding in the town.
Motorists are being urged not to drive unless absolutely necessary.
The scene in Appleby and Hawickpublished at 16:47
Two of the most badly affected towns so far have been Appleby in Cumbria and Hawick on the Scottish Borders.
A red warning for rain has been issued by the Met Office in both areas.
Here are two pictures from those areas which show the severity of the flooding.
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Appleby, Cumbria
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Hawick
Two severe flood warnings for Scotlandpublished at 16:41
Two severe flood warnings have now been issued for Scotland.
They affect the areas of Newcastleton and Hawick on the Scottish Borders.
Virgin update: Trains cancelledpublished at 16:34
People cannot travel between Preston and Carlisle on Virgin Trains.
This means trips from London to Scotland on the West Coast Mainline are not possible.
Quote Message
Due to a landslip, flooding and a red weather warning there are no services at all, in either direction, between Preston and Carlisle on the West Coast Mainline. This situation will continue for the rest of today and throughout Sunday, with services expected to resume on Monday. Services are running between London and Preston and between Glasgow and Carlisle. We're sorry for the disruption this will cause to your journey"
Virgin Trains, A spokesman
River Kent risingpublished at 16:33
The latest severe flood warnings, external have been made following the rising water levels of the River Kent.
Cumbrian towns of Sedgwick and Kendal will be affected.
Six further severe flood warningspublished at 16:20
Six more severe flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency, external.
The total now stands at 26 severe warnings, which indicate a danger to life.
There are now two in the North East and 24 in North West.
Weather continues to rage in Walespublished at 16:19
Image source, PA
Image caption,
High winds are whipping up big waves at Porthcawl in south Wales.
In Wales, two people have been rescued from their cars after becoming trapped in flood water. A 33-year-old man was winched to safety in Llandygai near Bangor, and a woman was helped by firefighters after her car was stranded in Beaumaris, Anglesey.
Meanwhile, 700 homes are without power and wind gusts of 83mph were recorded in Capel Curig, Snowdonia.
Arriva Trains Wales cancelled services to Chester after a bus shelter blew on to the tracks in Llanfairfechan, Conwy.
Trains have also been cancelled between Bangor and Holyhead because of flooding at several locations, particularly at Bodorgan on Anglesey.
Natural Resources Wales has issued flood warnings, external and a Met Office yellow "be aware" warning, external for wind and rain runs until 09:00 GMT on Sunday.
For more updates on Walesclick here.
Keswick situation 'unprecedented'published at 16:17
Keswick station commander Adrian Holmes said the current conditions in Keswick were "unprecedented" and more severe than the floods of 2009.
Cumbria Police update for Kendalpublished at 16:13
Cumbria Police have said, external that Kendal now has two reception centres open for members of the public to access for advice and shelter.
The reception shelters are based at the town hall and the leisure centre in Kendal.
Flood warnings mappublished at 16:12
Click here to access a BBC interactive map of flood warnings across the UK.
Power problems in Carnforth, Lancashirepublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2015
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