Cumbria's emergency services have dealt with almost 100 flood-related incidents today.

The emergency services have - and still are - out in force dealing with serious flooding problems across north and west Cumbria.

Schools have been shut and several main and back roads are blocked.

It's not just roads, schools and public transport that have been affected with residents in flood-prone towns seeing water coming within metres of their properties.

At around 11.30am firefighters were attended Winderbrowe Avenue in Keswick following reports of flooding affecting approximately six properties.

Fire crews are using one main pump while wearing flood suits to drain the water.

Crews were also sent out to Wigton at 12.40pm to reports of flooding in West Street. Traffic management has been put in place while they use a main pump and hose to drain the water.

Since 8:20am this morning the county's fire and rescue service has dealt with more than 30 flood related incidents.

A fire service spokesman said: "Initially, the majority of flood related calls were for advice in relation to sandbag provision.

"Since midday the number of incidents has increased and CFRS have deployed several fire appliances to deal with flooding and in a few cases they have rescued people from cars trapped in floodwater.

"At this time CFRS are still dealing with five flood related incidents.

"This morning the majority of flood related incidents were located in the south of Cumbria. There is still one ongoing incident in Ambleside area.

"However, the other ongoing flood related incidents are now located in the west of Cumbria, namely Aspatria, Keswick and Egremont."

The Environment Agency has issued 14 flood alerts and four warnings, the second highest level, for Cumbria.

A full list of the alerts are available here.

Between 50 and 70mm of rain is forecast for today. A yellow wind and rain warning has been issued by the Met Office.

Speaking this evening, Superintendent Matt Kennerley of Cumbria Police told the News & Star they'd received about 60 calls about weather and flood-related incidents.

"We've seen an increase in calls to the command room," he said.

"We had a number of cars stuck in flood water and people were reporting rivers bursting their banks.

"It has caused a number of minor RTCs with people skidding and taking longer to brake.

"We have added extra patrols tonight across the county and we are keeping up-to-date on what's going on."

Supt Kennerley also urged people to stay safe.

"We are asking the public to pay really close attention to the roads they want to travel on," he added.

"Allow a little bit more time and just keep it slow. Please don't drive through flood water as that can put you and responders in danger."

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Roads across the county are being effected by the ongoing rainfall.

"Police would also like to reiterate their advice to motorists to drive to the conditions following continued rainfall across the county.

"Drivers are asked to take care, slow down and not attempt to drive through flooded roads."

A car has also also been pictured getting stuck in flood water in Seaton.

People parked on the car park near to the Recreation Ground on Whitehaven's Coach Road have been rushing to move their cars, which have been swamped with water.

A major road into and out of Workington was one of the early victims as heavy rainfall batters the county.

Water was washing across the A596 at Castle Gardens, with vehicles being forced to approach carefully and some veering onto the other side of the road to avoid driving through it.

Road problems:

LATEST:

  • Carlisle B6263 closed Between Wetheral and Cumwhinton
  • Carlisle C1016 closed Kingmoor Road - under Kingmoor Railway Bridge
  • South Lakeland A684 Singleton Park Road closed near to Castle Green Hotel
  • South Lakeland A5087 Coast Road at Aldingham - May be able to reopen as tide goes out
  • South Lakeland Bridge Street, Burneside closed due to standing water
  • South Lakeland A591 Kendal Bypass passable with care
  • South Lakeland A66 Nook closed due to standing water
  • South Lakeland Clappersgate closed due to standing water
  • Allerdale C2001 Main Road Seaton closed due to standing water
  • Allerdale C2016 Papcastle Road closed due to standing water
  • Allerdale C2008 Dovenby Toll to Janet Bridge closed due to standing water
  • Copeland C4014 Braystone to Beckermet closed due to standing water
  • Centre of Kirkbride village, near Wigton, not passable due to standing water

CONFIRMED EARLIER:

  • Braithwaite - B5292 both ways closed due to flood defence work between A66 and Longcroft.
  • Maryport - A594 Ellenborough Road. Very slow traffic and just passable due to flooding around Ashby Street. Lots of water at Netherhall Corner and Ellenborough Road in Maryport and in Birkby.
  • Cars are apparently having to mount the pavement to get past surface water on the road in front of Flimby Ambulance Station.
  • Wigton - A596. Slow traffic and just passable due to flooding on A596 between B5302 (Wigton) and B5299 Brayton Road (Aspatria).
  • Dalston - B5299. Just passable due to flooding on B5299 at Lingyclose Road.
  • Workington - A596 High Street. Heavy traffic due to flooding on A596 both ways around Ellerbeck Lane.
  • Stainburn (Workington) - Stainburn Road. Flooding on Stainburn Road between Curwendale and Moor Road.
  • Seaton - Main Road. Both ways blocked due to flooding near Lowca Lane/Causeway Road
  • Maryport to Crosby road
  • Lots of water on the B5305 between Wigton and Unthank
  • There are reports of problems on roads in the Cockermouth area and on the A595 at Bothel.
  • According to reports in Gote Brow, Cockermouth, water is flowing out of field onto road and down the brow.
  • On the A595 towards Bothel the road is said to be under water at several locations but passable with care. Water is also running off the Torpenhow road at Bothel causing flooding on A595.
  • There are also reports of standing water along sections of the A595, at Parton in Whitehaven, by Beckermet Cemetery and at Ravenglass.
  • Coach Road in Whitehaven town centre is said to be "impassable" and roads in Low Moresby are also under water.

Schools shut:

  • Ireby Primary School
  • Oughterside Primary School
  • Waberthwaite School in Millom
  • Great Orton Primary School
  • Crosscanonby Primary School
  • Holme St Cuthbert, Maryport
  • Blennerhasset School
  • Beacon Hill Community School, Aspatria
  • Bassenthwaite School
  • Dowdales School, Dalton-in-Furness
  • Workington Academy
  • Ambleside Church of England School
  • Borrowdale Church of England School
  • Ulverston Victoria High School
  • Richmond Hill School, Aspatria
  • Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School
  • Holm Cultram Abbey School, Abbeytown
  • Lanercost CofE School
  • Langdale CofE
  • St Michael's CofE, Bothel
  • Solway Community Technology College, Silloth
  • Sandside Lodge School, Ulverston
  • Crosby Ravensworth
  • Old Hutton, Kendal

Some buses from Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton, are leaving early because of the problems.

Bus routes affected:

Several bus routes in west Cumbria have been stopped or rerouted by Stagecoach.

They include:

  • 30/31 through Maryport
  • 46/46A/47 through Workington town
  • X4/X5 through Stainburn, Workington
  • 78 Borrowdale - Keswick
  • 79 service out of Carlisle towards Annan
  • 400 Carlisle to Silloth via Wigton

Train problems:

  • Northern services through Aspatria are affected due to flooding in the town
  • The line between Windermere and Oxenholme is blocked

Flood barriers are being put up in Braithwaite, near Keswick, by the Environment Agency.

There are also huge problems in the south of the county.

Key safety messages for the public from Cumbria Fire and Rescue:

  • Consider before you set off whether your journey is essential. If not, can it be delayed until after the rain has subsided.
  • Plan journeys in advance, taking care to avoid areas which are prone to flooding, and factor in extra time to allow for slower speeds and potential congestion.
  • Driving too fast through standing water could lead to tyres losing contact with the road. Slow down.
  • Finally, do not attempt to walk or drive through flood water.

Flimby residents are holding their breath as they face exactly the same situation that flooded the village during Storm Desmond.

Joy Chivers from the Flimby Flood Action Group said the only advantage this time is it is daylight.

"The water is creeping up Pennygill and the field opposite Farmers Way is completely flood already," she said.

"This is a designated holding area for water but there are houses on either side and if there is much morewater there is going to be trouble."

She said the combination of the beck, Barrel Arch, flooding and high tide meant there was nowhere for the water to go.

"There are Environmental Agency staff around the village monitoring the situation," she added.

"We had high tide at 1.30 and Barrel Arch held although it was right to the top.

"Those who have them have put up their flood gates and we are just waiting to see what happens.

"If there is not too much more water we might be okay but we are just waiting."