FLOOD alerts have been issued for part of the Lake District today following heavy rainfall.

The Environment Agency has put alerts - meaning flooding is possible, be prepared - in place for the upper River Derwent, Stonthwaite Beck and Derwentwater and the Rivers Lowther and Eamont.

The Derwent Alert states: "River and Beck levels are currently high in Borrowdale and the level of Derwentwater is forecast to rise at the Lodore lake level gauge as a result of heavy rainfall today. "Consequently, flooding of roads and farmland is expected/possible between 2pm and midnight.

"Flooding is affecting low lying land and roads in the Seatoller, Stonethwaite, Rosthwaite, Grange-in-Borrowdale and Derwentwater shoreline areas."

The EA, which is closely monitoring the situation, said high river and lake levels were possible on the River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck, Watendlath Beck, Derwentwater and their tributaries and the public are urged to avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses.

The second alert, for Lowther and Eamont says River levels have risen at the Glenridding Beck river gauge as a result of the persistent heavy rain. Flooding in that area is possible between 2pm and 6pm and is likely to affect low lying land in the Bampton, Patterdale, Glenridding, Dockray, Pooley Bridge, Dacre, Eamont Bridge and Penrith areas.

River levels are expected to remain high until later this evening and into the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Heavy rainfall is forecast to clear Cumbria by 7pm tonight.