Flooding closes Cumbria roads and schools

  • Published
Blennerhasset floodingImage source, Chris Allman
Image caption,

The village of Blennerhasset saw some of the worst flooding

Some parts of Cumbria saw more than 8ins (206mm) of rain fall in less than 24 hours, according to provisional figures from the Environment Agency.

Honister, Seathwaite and Ennerdale were the worst hit areas as torrential downpours closed schools and disrupted road and rail travel.

The agency, external issued 18 flood alerts and eight flood warnings, while a Met Office yellow warning for rain was in place for much of Wednesday.

No serious injuries were reported.

BBC weather presenter Paul Mooney said the amount of rainfall had been "significant" but not on the scale of Storm Desmond in 2015.

The Borrowdale area was also badly affected, with two bridges forced to close.

Northern Rail said lines were blocked due to floods between Carlisle and Maryport causing major disruption, external.

Live updates on the flooding

Eight schools were forced to shut due to impassable roads. They were:

  • Blennerhasset

  • Borrowdale Primary School

  • Bridekirk Dovenby Primary School

  • Ireby School

  • Oughterside Primary School

  • Richmond Hill School

  • St Michael's Primary School

  • Beacon Hill Community School

Egremont Bridge in Egremont and Forge Bridge in Eskdale were both closed.

The A595 had been closed at Bothel but has now reopened.

Image caption,

Several roads were closed, with many others barely passable

Image source, Gary Macrae
Image caption,

The Borrowdale area also saw some severe downpours

Gary Macrae, from the Hazel Bank Country House Hotel in Borrowdale, said the rain had affected their guests and deliveries.

He told BBC Cumbria: "We have a house full of guests who can't move backwards or forwards - they can't get into Keswick via Honister or via the main Borrowdale Road into Keswick, which is a bit of a nuisance.

"Plus our deliveries aren't going to be getting to us today either."

South Lakeland District Council said sandbags were being made available at its depots in Ulverston, Ecclerigg and Kendal.

Image source, Gary Macrae
Image caption,

People are unable to get in and out of Borrowdale

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