More rain threatened for flooded n/w England

The people of Cumbria in northwestern England have begun returning to their homes and businesses after a weekend of storms and floods. The owners of around 900 properties in Cockermouth are being allowed back, although the town remains badly affected. 25 roads and 16 bridges in Cumbria are still closed, leaving many people cut off. The county took the brunt of the weekend storms; a policeman was swept away and died when a bridge collapsed. Ireland was also badly hit.

Bridges across the county are being examined by structural engineers, amid fears that more could fail. Cockermouth and other towns have begun the clean-up, but more storms are on the way in from the Atlantic, with tomorrow’s rain expected to be particularly heavy. Local people fear it could be months before their lives are back to normal.

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