The Environment Agency has issued 17 severe weather warnings - 15 in Cumbria and two in Northumberland at Corbridge, external.

That means there could be severe flooding and danger to life.

Among the areas badly affected by flooding are Appleby, Keswick and Kendal.

Police have declared a "major incident" across Cumbria.

People in parts of Appleby and Keswick have been evacuated from properties and other residents have been advised to consider staying with family or friends, or to visit their local reception centre for advice and shelter.  

There are now 20 severe flood warnings - two in North East England and 18 in the North West, the Environment Agency has said, external.

The three additional severe flood warnings all affect Kendal, Cumbria.

A major incident has now been declared across Cumbria because of the severe weather.

Many of Cumbria’s roads are blocked or impassable due to flooding and widespread surface water, Cumbria Police said, external. 

In particular roads around Keswick and Kendal are blocked and police are advising people not to travel in or out of those areas.

Just to recap a Met Office red warning for rain warns people to take "precautionary action" and "remain extra vigilant".

People should also expect significant disruption to normal daily routines and avoid all non-essential journeys, the Met Office says. 

In the last few minutes the Met Office has issued a red warning - its highest level of warning - for rain in south-west Scotland, Lothian and Borders.

Image source, Traffic Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 73 flood warnings, external. 

The River Nith in Dumfries and the the River Teviot in Hawick have burst their banks.

The Met Office have issued yellow and amber alerts for heavy rain in areas across central and southern Scotland through until Sunday.

The flood warnings and the Met Office's amber warnings for rain, external - meaning "be prepared" - affect Strathclyde, Central, Tayside, Fife, South West Scotland, Lothian and Borders.

The M90, A9 and A82 have all been closed, along with several other main roads across the country.

For more information on Scotland click here.

Highways England has said that due to strong winds the following routes in northern England are closed to high-sided vehicles:

- The A66 in both directions between the junctions of the A67 near Bowes in County Durham and the A685 at Brough in Cumbria. Customers seeking to use the A66 joining from either the A1 at Scotch Corner or from the M6 J40 at Penrith are reminded that the A69 and M62 Trans-Pennine routes remain open to all traffic at this time.

- The A19 in both directions over the Tees Viaduct in Middlesborough between the A66 and A1046. Local diversions are in place.

- The A628 Woodhead Pass in both directions between the A616 at Flouch in South Yorkshire and the A57 at Hollingworth, Greater Manchester.

Highways England is responsible for motorways and other major roads in England. 

The next 18 hours are expected to bring more heavy rainfall.

"We are looking at some really extreme conditions," says BBC weatherman Chris Fawkes.

The Met Office issued its highest red warning for north-west England, urging against all non-essential travel.

Nick Rees is on holiday in Ambleside in Cumbria and was supposed to return home to Scotland today.

Chaos caused by the weather continues as this picture of an overturned lorry on the A66 near Brough in Cumbria shows.

Image source, PA

About 1,500 people are without power in Cumbria after bad weather has caused more than 40 faults on the network.

Electricity North West, external said it had already restored power to more than 2,400 people and was continuing to carry out urgent repairs.

Systems manager Chris Fox said “Our engineers are working in extremely difficult conditions making it difficult to climb and in some areas difficult to get to the fault to repair the damage due to access issues. 

“We have drafted in extra engineers and will continue to work throughout the day to get everyone back on and we are here 24 hours day seven days a week so please contact us if you need any advice or information.” 

Pictures just in show Whitehaven harbour in Cumbria taking a battering as high-speed gales whip up waves against the quay wall.

Part of the beach at Redcar was closed this morning after pieces of the vertical pier were blown off.

CCTV operators saw several large piece of paneling falling off the Beacon on to the beach at about 09:20 GMT.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said the beach was closed around the Beacon to prevent any injuries.

Redcar and Cleveland Council is working to make the building safe.