David Wildridge, his wife Melanie and children Maddie, 11 and Ayden, aged nine - carrying his teddy bear, had grabbed a few bags and their dog before being rescued by boat from their home in the heart of Carlisle earlier.

Mr Wildridge said emergency services were worried about a crack in a join between a flood defence wall and a bridge over the River Eden close to their home.   

BBC Radio Cumbria

Environment Agency rain gauges have recorded widespread totals of more than 200mm across Cumbria.

The 18th Century Pooley Bridge at Ullswater has been destroyed in the floods.

Image source, Sharrow Bay Hotel

The AA has 50 patrols in action across Cumbria and has brought in special 4x4 vehicles to help with more than 70 breakdowns. 

Edmund King, AA president, said: "Most of the roads are very hard to access due to submersion."

Mr King said: "In some areas of Cumbria where possible we are asking members to call back once the floodwater has subsided."    

The RNLI has released further details of its flood rescue operation, saying 27 volunteers from all over the country have carried out 200 rescues in Cumbria. 

Eight boat crews are currently working in the county.

Cumbria County Council is urging people not to drive unless absolutely necessary. 

Even though rain has subsided many roads are still closed and some bridges have been affected.

Image source, Will Roberts

People are also being warned not to use bridges, even where water has subsided, because of the possibility of structural damage. 

The warning comes after Pooley Bridge collapsed near Penrith. 

Main rivers across Cumbria have exceeded the highest values ever recorded, external:

The River Eden (at Sands Centre) broke through the previous highest record of 4.85m, rising as high as 6.2m at about 23:30 on Saturday.

Similarly at Keswick, the River Greta (Greta Bridge) showed the highest ever recorded at 5.32m. The previous record was 4.66m.

At Carlisle, the Eden is forecast to peak at 7.7 - 7.9m. The previous highest recorded was 7.2m - This exceeds 2005 and 2009.

Workington Cricket Ground was hit by the floods. Here's a photo taken earlier today - thanks to Kevin H.

Tweet your photos to @BBC_Cumbria, external

Image source, Kevin H

He also says that Hall Park is flooded:

Image source, Kevin H

Cumbria County Council's Public Health is warning people to be careful around floodwater. They are advising people:

• To stay out of the water, which remains dangerous, and not to allow children to play in floodwater

• If you have been flooded and are now thinking about clearing up your home, make sure you are in touch with your insurer first and get their advice about what you can do before they get involved

• When cleaning up, make sure you wear rubber gloves, boots and eye protection, and wash your hands afterwards

• Don’t touch electrical sockets when standing in water or with wet hands

• Don’t use petrol or diesel generators indoors to dry out your home. The exhaust gases contain dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Electricity North West said it had managed to protect the substation, preventing the need for planned shutdowns in Carlisle., external

Plans were put in place to remove supplies to 5,000 customers at a time to prevent around 60,000 homes and businesses from being without power for some time.

Electricity North West Systems Manager, Chris Fox, said: “Our engineers, with the help from partner agencies, have done an amazing job to protect the substation and power supplies to thousands of customers in Carlisle."

It has restored power to more than 13,000 customers since the severe weather hit and 55,000 customers are still without power in Lancaster.