U.K: Body Found Amid Cumbria Floods Clean Up

"Floods Cut Power To Thousands"

The Government says it will look at flood defence spending as the PM heads to Cumbria where thousands of homes are underwater.

A body has been found during a search of the River Kent in Kendal as Cumbria prepares for more rain after a weekend of "unprecedented" rainfall caused by Storm Desmond.

ADVERTISEMENT

More than 40 severe flood warnings - signalling a danger to life - are in place across the flood-hit North West, with yellow rain warnings issued for later in the week.

The Government has said it will look again at flood defence spending in the wake of the deluge that has left at least 2,100 homes in Cumbria and Northumberland flooded according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

One rain gauge in Cumbria recorded 341mm of rain in 24 hours over the weekend - thought to be the highest ever recorded English rainfall - much of which has poured into rivers and towns further downstream.

David Cameron's spokesman said the "government should look again at whether there should be adjustments going forward to flood defences".

"Carlisle Left All At Sea By Floods"

But, as Downing Street confirmed the PM is on his way to the worst affected areas, the spokesman defended previous flood planning, saying the problem had been that levels of rainfall had smashed previous records.

Across the north and in Scotland, roads have been destroyed, train passengers are being told of a week of disruption with some lines reportedly under eight foot of water and the Army is working to help people from their swamped homes.

A police statement said: "Officers, along with the Underwater Search Team, are working to recover the body which has been located in the Kendal area. There is no further information at this time."

It came after an elderly man was reported missing after falling into a swollen river just after 10am on Sunday.

Over 3,000 homes in Cumbria and the Lancaster area still have no power after more than 40,000 were cut off.

"Minister Coy Over More Flood Money"

People are being given bottled water to drink because treatment works and been flooded and there are reports that sewage has been forced on to the streets.

Further rain weather warnings have been issued for the North West, as well as central and southern Scotland, with strong winds of up to 60mph expected to batter flooded areas.

Questions have been asked about why multimillion-pound flood defences, which were upgraded in 2010 to withstand a "once in 100 years" flood, were breached at the weekend.

Liz Truss, Environment Secretary, told Sky News: "It delayed the floods so it gave us an opportunity to protect people and evacuate people. Of course we will learn the lessons that we can from this unprecedented event."

"Floods Minister On Cumbria Response"

She will set out more details of the Government's response in an oral statement to the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rory Stewart, a local Conservative MP who is also a DEFRA minister with responsibility for flooding, told Sky News there was more rain than had ever been recorded.

:: Watch a special programme about the floods and the impact on the North West tonight at 7pm on Sky News.

On Saturday, a man died after being blown into a bus by high winds in London and in Ireland, a teenager is fighting for her life after a group of four Dublin Scouts were swept into the sea in Wexford.

In Cumbria, the worst hit county, several bridges and roads have been washed away and many others declared unsafe for the meantime while checks take place.

"Latest Update On The Cumbria Floods"

Rescue teams involving the local Duke of Lancasters Regiment and the RNLI helped to evacuate people as thousands of shops, homes and businesses were inundated and dozens of schools were closed.

The Association of British Insurers said its members had been "mobilising a small army" of claims teams to help victims but added that it could take up to a year for homes to become habitable again.

A fundraising campaign set up on Sunday for people affected by the floods had raised more than a quarter of a million pounds by Monday morning.

Several NHS hospitals in the region said they had cancelled non-essential appointments and routine services as emergency crews remain under pressure.

"The Latest UK Weather Forecast"

Sky's weather presenter Isobel Lang said there is more rain on the way on Wednesday and Thursday but it won't be at the levels seen over the weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

She said there would be: "Around 100mm in the North West, which will lead to further flooding. It is saturated ground and all the water still has to get through all the river channels. It’s unlikely to be as bad as it has been but we're watching it because it's a moving front."

SKY