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United Kingdom: flood defences criticised after storm leaves areas under water

“We encourage people to stand by local businesses as they continue to operate despite the floods and damage”.

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British Prime Minister has chaired an emergency government meeting to coordinate the emergency response.

Many roads are still closed, although Virgin Trains has reopened its West Coast mainline, but warned that delays were still likely.

Mr Clark has confirmed that councils will have all of their clean-up costs compensated through the Bellwin scheme.

Environment Secretary Liz Truss said there had been a “number of weather-related fatalities” and the severity of the weather was “unprecedented”.

She told Good Morning Britain: ‘It is always hard to judge when there might be an extreme event and what we do have to be is prepared.

However around 1,000 properties are still without electricity in Cumbria.

Electricity North West said power had been restored to the vast majority of affected homes in the Lancaster area.

Making a statement in the Commons, Ms Truss said action was taken last Friday in preparation for Storm Desmond. The Environment Agency had previously put the figure at around 5,200.

Almost 100 flood warnings are in place for England and Wales.

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for Wednesday and says rain will be “persistent and heavy at times” in northern England and much of Scotland.

An underwater search team is working to recover the body which was discovered in the Kendal area, Cumbria Police said.

The Glenridding Hotel said it is flooding again, and in need of more sandbags “to try and cope with it”.

Cumbria Police said up to 6,425 properties might have been flooded in the county but the most likely scenario was that 4,881 had been affected. “Any additional rainfall – even 1cm-2cm – could cause flash flooding in rain affected areas as the ground is already saturated with water”.

The money will also be used to help Cumbria and Lancashire assess damage to the local highway network and restore flood defences. “Anyone who has been a victim of crime should call Cumbria Police on 101 so that we can investigate, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111”.

Eden Bridge remains closed, while Eamont Bridge near Penrith has been reclosed to allow for further inspection, Cumbria County Council said.

Residents carry possessions from their flooded homes in Carlisle.

Some 45 severe flood warnings are in place.

The incident raised questions over why barriers built following serious flooding in Cumbria in 2005 failed to contain the weekend’s heavy rainfall, in which 2,000 buildings were flooded.

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“Unfortunately the flood defences were just not going to be able to protect every single property”, John Leyland, deputy director of operations at the Environment Agency, told BBC radio.

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