Latest on severe weather in the North East and Cumbria

Summary

Major incident declared in Cumbria
Severe weather causes problems in the North East & Cumbria
Dozens of flood warnings in place
Homes flooded and roads shut
Updates on Saturday 5 December

Live Reporting

Cumbria Police: Only travel if essentialpublished at 17:36
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How the Tyne has changed in Corbridgepublished at 17:32
University professor Michael Briggs has shared this photograph, external of the River Tyne at Corbridge showing how Storm Desmond has affected it.
The left hand side shows the river six weeks ago, the right side is today.
Image source, Michael Briggs
A69 closed at Greenheadpublished at 17:25
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BBC Cumbria will go throughout the nightpublished at 17:24
BBC Cumbria
We will be broadcasting throughout the night to keep you up to date on the weather and floods across Cumbria.
You can listen to us live online here or on 95.6FM.
Worry for people in Keswickpublished at 17:18
Fiona Trott
BBC News
In Keswick, emergency services are pumping out water from overflowing drains into the river.
People are very worried because they are seeing water breach the flood defences.
It has been raining for 24 hours and the rain is still coming down.
Advice if you are affected by the floodingpublished at 17:14
Cumbria Police and partner agencies are urging people to stay safe., external
They are urging people not to walk or drive through flood water.
Cumbria County Council has advice on its website about what to do when you are affected by flooding., external
You can get the latest weather updates on the BBC Weather website and traffic on the BBC Travel website.
Severe flood warnings for Cockermouthpublished at 17:10
The Environment Agency has issued five severe flood warnings for the River Cocker and Derwent in Cockermouth, external.
And severe warnings, which mean there is a danger to life, are still in force for Kendal and Keswick.
The Cockermouth warnings cover several parts including the market place, cricket ground and numeours streets.
Corbridge bus divertedpublished at 17:03
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Flooding cuts power for 1,000 in Applebypublished at 16:59
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Parts of Keswick evacuatedpublished at 16:54
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Video: River Cocker at Cockermouthpublished at 16:45
BBC Cumbria
The River Cocker in Cockermouth is close to bursting as rain continues to fall throughout Cumbria.
On our Facebook page we've put a video sent to us by Gary Redmond., external
Image source, Gary Redmond
Keswick floods in picturespublished at 16:42
Keswick resident Pete Armstrong said the rain has been relentless since last night.
Image source, Pete Armstrong
Image source, Pete Armstrong
Twenty six flood warnings in place across Cumbria and Northumberlandpublished at 16:36
There are now 26 severe flood warnings in place from the Environment Agency which warn of the risk of danger to life.
Twenty four of the warnings are for Cumbria and two for the River Tyne at Corbridge in Northumberland., external
The Met Office has issued its highest red warning for Cumbria., external
It said: "Heavy and persistent rain is currently affecting the warning area and is expected to become heavier during Saturday afternoon before clearing southwards during the early hours of Sunday."
'People worried they won't be able to get home'published at 16:29
James Brock was in Keswick earlier before returning to his home in Cockermouth.
He said: "I travelled from Cockermouth to Keswick earlier but it was pretty bleak with rain and gale force winds.
"Some shops were shutting and others were going in to shops to shelter from the heavy rain.
"I returned to Cockermouth a short time ago - it's very bad here too. I was in a café and I could see water going over the flood defences. Some people here are worried they won't be able to get back home."
More pictures from Keswickpublished at 16:22
Pete Armstrong in Keswick said the footpath along the bottom of the youth hostel is usually about 6ft (2m) above the water level, but now it is submerged.
Image source, Pete Armstrong
Image source, Pete Armstrong
Sandbags available but difficult to get topublished at 16:17
Cumbria Police have issued advice on getting sandbags in the Kendal area.
A spokesman said: "South Lakeland still have supplies of sand bags at our depots at Ulverston and Ecclerigg, but access is difficult because of road conditions.
"The remaining supplies from the Kendal depot at Canal Head have been moved to higher ground at Greenside, Kendal, close to Kendal Fell waste transfer station."
Police are urging people to only travel in the Kendal roundabout if absolutely necessary as many roads are blocked or impassable.
Two reception centres in Kendalpublished at 16:08
Two reception centres have been set up in Kendal for people to get advice, safety and shelter.
Cumbria Police said the town hall and leisure centre have been opened.
They are urging people to notify their families if they decide to leave home.
Keswick weather is 'dreadful'published at 16:00
Pete Armstrong in Keswick said the weather is dreadful and only seems to be getting worse.
"People have either been running around taking photographs or scuttling for shelter, it's dreadful out," he said.
Image source, Pete Armstrong
He said he has seen similar rain fall before although this is the biggest challenge yet for the town's flood defences which were installed in 2009.
Mr Armstrong said the bridge in Keswick Park usually stands high above the River Greta but the water is now coming close to submerging the walkway.
People asked to keep family and friends informedpublished at 15:54
Cumbria Police said people in parts of Applebyand Keswick have been evacuated, external from properties and other residents have been advised to consider self-evacuating to stay with family/friends, or to visit their local reception centre for advice and shelter.
If people decided to self-evacuate, they asked them to inform family and friends where you are going, and that you are safe, to avoid concerned relatives contacting emergency services.
High number of flood-related callspublished at 15:51
A major incident has been declared in Cumbria because of the severe weather.
Cumbria Police Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Andy Towler said: "Due to the current weather conditions being experienced across Cumbria, the emergency services are experiencing a high number of flooding related calls.
"These include a number of rescues of people from vehicles stuck in flood water. Apart from the obvious risk to members of the public, the abandoned vehicles are then causing considerable problems for emergency services when travelling around the county.”