Specialist Shropshire boat crew helps residents left stranded by Storm Desmond

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a £50 million fund for families and businesses affected by flooding in Cumbria and Lancashire.

Flooding caused by Storm Desmond resulted in thousands of people being evacuated from their homes and many being left without electricity for days.

After the country was battered by storms and heavy rain over the weekend, which saw the army called in to help those affected, Britain’s Environment Agency said more than 80 flood warnings remained in place on Monday, 46 of which were severe.

Cumbria Police said today its estimated worst-case scenario was as many as 6,425 homes were flooded in the county after Desmond struck this week.

Trains on the West Coast Main Line between Preston and Scotland have been suspended, and rail replacement services can not be offered due to treacherous conditions on the roads, says Sky News.

BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE Handout photo issued by Animal Heaven Animal Rescue (AHAR) of a donkey being rescued from a flooded field in Killorglin, Co Kerry, Ireland.

Homes and businesses have been devastated by record rainfall, and the extreme weather has claimed three lives.

One death was reported in London, after an elderly man was blown into the path of a bus, and a body was also found in a search of the River Kent in Cumbria, after reports that an elderly man had fallen into the water.

“In those areas where the water did come over the tops of the defences, firstly, the fact the defences were there reduced the overall impact and extent of the flood and, secondly, it gave people more time to prepare”, he said in an interview.

“There were people after the game when we went over to clap the fans in the stands who’ve been affected – there was one or two who said their houses were flooded and they still made it to the game”.

Some 2,685 properties also remain without power, the force said.

Cumbria, which is the worst hit county, has seen several of its bridges and roads being washed away with many others declared unsafe pending safety checks.

The leader of Cumbria County Council Stewart Young, said that the news was “welcome”.

It had already been announced 5,000 businesses and households in Cumbria and Lancashire, which were flooded, are to get relief from council tax and business rates.

This will include measures such as flood barriers, water-resistant doors and windows or moving electricity sockets up to a safer level.

Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Guy Shrubsole said: “Liz Truss’s concession that United Kingdom flood projection data needs to be revisited is a clear sign that officials are seriously concerned that climate change is increasing the risk of flooding far higher than expected”.

Workmen by Pooley Bridge in Ullswater, Cumbria survey the damage after it collapsed following heavy flooding.

In Appleby, a temporary sandbag defence has been constructed to reinforce flood defences, protecting 159 properties in the Chapel Street area.