Prime Minister David Cameron has been speaking from Carlisle, where he's visited some of the worst-hit areas. 

"It's an absolutely horrific thing to happen, and for many of these people it's not the first time that it's happened - which is why we built these great barriers here, which have prevented Carlisle from being flooded on two other occasions," he said. 

"But they weren't enough this time - something like 14 inches of rain in 24 hours, it really was torrential."

For those forced out of their homes, the key was making sure their insurance was sorted quickly and alternative accommodation was found for them, he added.

Ms McCarthy suggested cuts to flood spending under the previous government left the UK unprepared for extreme weather events.

She called for a "cross-party approach" to make sure those affected by flooding could get home by Christmas.

Referring to the major floods in winter 2013/14, she said that David Cameron had promised money would be no object - but it was "months before residents, business owners and farmers received support from the government and much longer before they could return home".

Shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy said: "The immediate priority has to be help for all those who have been forced to evacuate their homes and businesses and make sure that everyone is safe, well and warm."

She called on the government to do more.

A bit more from that statement from Liz Truss - she says that the government is investing £2.3bn in 1,500 schemes over the course of the parliament which will protect 300,000 homes from flooding.

More than 3,500 homes have been flooded in this weekend's extreme weather, she says.

She is making her way to Cumbria and Lancashire after making her statement. 

Liz Truss confirmed that the Bellwin scheme - which gives emergency funds to councils during bad weather incidents - will be opening. 

The government's Cobra committee is going to continue to meet daily, says Liz Truss and the government is remaining "constantly vigilant". 

"Progress is being made" in helping families' lives get back to normal, with fewer than 5,000 homes now affected by power cuts, and electricity firms working "around the clock" to reconnect those still without power.

Image source, Reuters

This picture demonstrates the depth of the flood water in some areas. Here is a selection of other images from across Cumbria showing the impact of Storm Desmond.

There have been a number of weather-related deaths over the weekend, the environment secretary tells the House of Commons.

The government is doing all it can to help all of those affected by the severe weather, she says.

Liz Truss has also paid tribute to the work of emergency services in affected areas - as well as the "generous community spirit" with people offering food, beds and transport to those in need. 

Environment Secretary Liz Truss, making a statement to the Commons, says this weekend has bought extreme weather conditions, with an "unprecedented" amount of rainfall on Saturday. 

The government mobilised a full emergency response, she says.

She expresses her "deepest sympathies to those who have been affected" across the UK.

Further to our donkey rescue, we've been told by the RSPCA that they've rescued eight dogs, seven cats, four rabbits and three chickens from flooded properties. Along the way they helped 36 people to safety as well.

Among them was an elderly man in Carlisle who was semi-conscious. He was stretchered out of a nursing home and taken on a RSPCA boat to hospital. 

Since Friday the animal charity says it has received 77 calls about flooding incidents and sent 20 trained officers from across England and Wales to help. 

Just a heads up, we're anticipating a statement in the Commons shortly from Environment Secretary Liz Truss. She said earlier she'd be outlining further support for stricken communities. She's due to speak at 15:30 GMT.

Amid all the distress caused by Storm Desmond, one good news story. A donkey has been rescued from deep flood water in Killorglin, County Kerry, in the Republic of Ireland. We're told he's doing well despite his ordeal.

In its latest update, external issued a short time ago, Cumbria Police said there were 2,685 properties in the county that remain without power. Of those, the majority are in Carlisle, but several hundred others in Cockermouth and Appleby are also cut off.

London Fire Brigade has sent three national flood tactical advisers, external to Cumbria.

Group Manager Andy Roe said: "It is unusual for us to be called upon in this way, but due to the seriousness of the flooding we have seen in Cumbria we have been at the scene offering technical advice and support.

“Our main priority is to ensure that no one is still trapped by the flood waters. Today under the instruction of one of our advisers, 12 people have been safely rescued from flooded properties and other buildings, including a care home, have been checked and evacuated."

Cumbria Police say they've now recovered the body of a man from a stream running into the River Kent in the Staveley area near Kendal. 

A spokeswoman added: "Police were called at 10.01am yesterday to reports than an elderly man had fallen in the water. Formal identification has not yet taken place."

We mentioned two records smashed by Storm Desmond and it turns out it's come close to breaking a third. 

According to researchers at Lancaster University’s Hazelrigg Weather Station, the 24-hour period from 09:00 GMT on Saturday saw 59.7mm of rain fall - the second highest total in 50 years of records.

The wettest ever 24 hours saw 69.4 mm fall on 8 December 1983.