A 15-year-old cancer sufferer has thanked people around the world for helping to fulfil her ’bucket list’ of things she wants to do before she dies.

Flood-hit communities were today facing up to the devastation caused by the torrential downpours as homes and businesses were cut off by collapsed or damaged bridges and schools closed.

An urgent safety review of Cumbria’s 1,800 bridges was under way today with emergency services warning one bridge could collapse at any time and 50mph winds forecast.