FORECASTERS have predicted more bad weather to sweep across the county over the next few days as Hurricane Lorenzo hits.

Rainfall overnight led to chaos, with roads and schools being forced to close and disruption caused to rail travel.

Many Carlisle roads were closed or impassable due to localised flooding, including London Road, Houghton Road and Briscoe Road.

One of the most dramatic scenes included Dalston Road, between the Pirelli factory and Carlisle Crematorium, where more than one car had to be pulled from the water.

One road user driving near the Pirelli factory said: “I can’t believe in 2019 this is still happening.

“The roads are just ridiculous. This road has just had work done to it and now it is impassable.

“I have to get to the doctor’s but I don’t know how I’m going to get there. It’s ridiculous.”

One resident, whose house looks onto Dalston Road, noted the sheer volume of water which was outside the crematorium.

She said: “I’m not worried at the moment because I’m high up but the wall is getting a bit old.

“It’s the inconvenience.

“It’s the way of the world at the moment.

“We were lucky this morning – one of our neighbours got up and pushed the cars out of the way. It was really good because we’re in a dip.

“About 6.30am I could hear the traffic which is what woke me.

“When the water comes down it finds the route of the old beck and then it heads over the road into the cemetery.”

Over 30mm of rainfall fell in Cumbria on Monday night, with Carlisle topping the chart at 39.8mm recorded during a 12-hour period.

RAF Spadeadam recorded 35mm of rainfall and Bridgefoot 30.8mm.

Grahame Madge, a spokesman for the Met Office, said: “On Thursday we will start to see the conditions deteriorate again with strong winds and heavy rain coming in.

“Thursday night will be affected by heavy rain and into Friday it will be unsettled.

“Saturday will be clear but then that band of rain will come in again during Saturday night and Sunday.

“It’s looking quite unsettled.

“There will be some quite intense rain over the next few days.”

Cumbria County Council highways teams and Cumbria Fire and Rescue crews were out all night and throughout the day yesterday to assist with road congestion, closures, cars stuck in water, properties flooded and localised flooding as a result of the heavy rainfall.

A spokesman for Carlisle West fire station said: “We have been receiving a large number of flooding calls which seem to be due to overwhelmed drains.

“It appears to be coping now the rain has eased but there are still areas of standing water.

“Take care and don’t risk entering floodwater. Cars aren’t boats.

“Rivers are high and levels may continue to rise as tributaries empty their excess.

“Check the Met Office for warnings and updates if concerned.”