Unprecedented flooding across Cumbria after Storm Desmond
Body found in River Kent during search for missing man
David Cameron says flooding was 'absolutely horrific'
UK record rainfall in Cumbria, Met Office confirms
Updates resume at 06:30 on Tuesday
This helicopter footage reveals the scale of widespread flooding in Cumbria as flood waters reach their peak in the wake of Storm Desmond.
Hundreds of homes have been flooded and more than 1,000 people evacuated in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders.
Storm Desmond flooding from above
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For the uninitiated - this is a Unimog, external.
The Met Office has confirmed that Honister in Cumbria received a record amount of rainfall for the UK.
Some 341.4mm of rain fell in the 24-hour period from 18:30 on Friday.
This beats the previous UK 24-hour record set at Seathwaite of 316.4mm on 19 November 2009.
Cumbria Tourism has set up a helpline and an online service for people with holidays planned in the Lake District.
The helpine number is 01539 822 222. The website can be found here., external
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North West Evening Mail
Newspaper
The aftermath of Storm Desmond and flooding in Cumbria is continuing to cause major disruption, external today.
BBC Radio Cumbria
Mark Williamson, the operations director for Electricity Northwest, external, says he's worked for the company for more than 20 years and never known anything like this.
He says it's "unprecedented".
Prime Minister David Cameron has said that there can be levels of rainfall that are "extremely hard" to defend against.
Speaking at a news conference in the West Midlands, he told reporters he would be visiting Cumbria to "see for himself" the devastation the extreme weather has created.
And he said the government would help local authorities by enacting a scheme whereby central government reimburses councils for their costs in dealing with floods.
Danny Savage
North of England correspondent
I'm in Carlisle's Warwick Road area, where the perimeter of the flood zone has shrunk, but 36 hours on, people are still being rescued.
Storm Desmond: Flooding crisis not over in Carlisle
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David Shukman
Science editor, BBC News
The ferocity of the storm and the sheer volume of the rainfall have inevitably raised questions about whether global warming has exacerbated the risk. The answer is not straightforward.
Scientists always shy away from blaming any particular weather event on climate change. But they also point to a basic physical property of the atmosphere: that warmer air can hold more moisture. That means that rising temperatures are likely to lead to storms that may drop more rain - and in more intense bursts. And figures from the Met Office do point to a slight increase in the intensity of rainfall in the UK over the past 60 years.
Flood engineers already try to take account of climate change in their planning. That work needs constant updating. And whatever the factors involved - everything from saturated soil to new acres of car park to the always fickle British weather - many people here in Cumbria will be asking whether the authorities are getting their calculations right.
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The A591 in South Cumbria has partially reopened, police say, external.
The northbound carriageway of the A591 at Prizet in Kendal has reopened following flooding but one lane is still closed.
Traffic is now able to travel from Junction 36 of the M6 towards Kendal, Windermere and Ambleside
The A591 remains closed north of Grasmere (between Grasmere and Keswick) and is likely to be for some time. The southbound carriageway of the A591 at Prizet was reopened yesterday.
Danny Savage
North of England correspondent
It's getting better in Carlisle but it's a long way from being over.
The water in the Warwick Road area of the city is receding and the perimeter of the flood zone has shrunk.
But 36 hours on, people are still being rescued. Lifeboat crews say these are mainly people who thought they would tough it out at home but have finally decided enough is enough.
Image source, Getty ImagesWhere the water has drained away, residents are now assessing the damage.
Soaking carpets are being pulled up and ruined belongings thrown away.
And they know what's ahead. It will take months to dry out these homes and people here are well acquainted with the long miserable experience.
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Martin Lewes
Reporter
Ministers have been holding what's called a Cobra meeting to discuss the floods.
Downing Street says the meeting agreed that there should be an assessment of existing flood defences to determine whether they need strengthening.
There was "agreement that the Government should now look again at ... the plans that we have in place and the flood defences that already exist, and whether there needs to be adjustment made to those based on the fact that we have seen unprecedented amounts of rainfall in some areas," said the Prime Minister's spokeswoman.
Water levels in Carlisle reached about 50cm above the level seen in 2005. The Prime Minister left the meeting saying he planned to visit the affected areas.
Just to confirm that report from the News and Star earlier (See below at 11:47) - police say they have had no reports of any looting.
After the 2005 floods there were several reports of looting, and following the 2009 floods patrols were stepped up in preparation. Cumbria Police says it has stepped up patrols in Carlisle "as a precaution", but they have had "no reports of looting".
Martin Lewes
Reporter
Firefighters from Cheshire have been sent to Cumbria to support the county's fire and rescue service.
Staff from Warrington, Widnes and Congleton fire stations are among the team that is now in the region, along with personnel from the International Search and Rescue team. Two fire engines, a rescue boat and a "High Volume Pump" have also been sent to Cumbria. The Environment Agency says a pump from Somerset has also arrived.
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Cumbria's police and crime commissioner has thanked his staff and other emergency service workers for their efforts tackling the flood waters.
Image source, Cumbria policeRichard Rhodes said: "Many have worked tirelessly to help those affected by the severe weather and floods, the scale of which is unprecedented in that so many parts of the county have been hit hard. My thoughts go out to those who have been affected."
He said people should keep up with new information on flood warnings and road closures, adding: “Please take care and do not put yourself or others at risk, especially as the emergency services are fully stretched.”
The scale of the rescue effort in Carlisle today is shown in these photos:
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images