A POLICE officer is missing after a bridge collapsed during flooding of 'biblical proportions' which saw hundreds of people evacuated from their homes.

Four bridges collapsed, main roads were blocked, schools closed and more than 200 people were forced to leave their homes in Cockermouth overnight after the deluge struck.

The Environment Agency had six severe flood warnings in place - all in Cumbria - 29 flood warnings, and 65 less serious flood watches.

The missing officer disappeared after Northside bridge, on one of the main routes into Workington, collapsed, cutting off the gas supply to the town.

Search

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: “A search operation is under way and we have assigned a liaison officer to support the family.

“This is an extremely difficult time for the officer's colleagues, who are still committed to supporting the community and dealing with the flood situation.”

Devastating rainfall over Cumbria in the last 36 hours reached record and 'historical' levels for the country.

Severe flooding in the county was driven by a combination of heavy rainfall, saturated ground and swollen rivers.

The Environment Agency said its gauging station at Seawaite Farm recorded 314.4mm (12.3 inches) in 24 hours up to 00.45am - a record for England.


This is an extremely serious incident - our thoughts are with those people whose homes have been flooded.
Lord Smith

Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith was in Cockermouth this morning.

He said: "This is an extremely serious incident - our thoughts are with those people whose homes have been flooded.

"We have seen unprecedented rainfall, with what we believe is a record amount for a 24-hour period in England."

The Environment Agency Floodline service has received more than 12,000 calls from members of the public over the last 48 hours and issued more than 43,000 flood alerts via phone, text, email and fax.

You can register to recieve flood warnings here