Torrential floods hit UK

Devastating rainfall over Cumbria in England in the last 36 hours might have reached "historical" levels, forecasters said.

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

Julian Mayes, a forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said in excess of 250mm (9.8 inches) of rain fell in some parts of the county.

"It looks like a very historical event," he said. "It may well have broken the record for rainfall in the area in November."

Mr Mayes said the levels of rain in Cumbria were equivalent to five or six months of rainfall typically experienced over London and the south east of England.

"The fact that there's eight feet of water in some places is not that surprising," he said. "Primarily, it's the sheer quantity in the last 36 hours that has caused the flooding. In November, the ground is saturated. The rain can't get into the soil, it just runs off.

"That means rivers rise very quickly and suddenly."

Floods caused widespread travel chaos across the UK, with north west England and Scotland the worst hit.

Rail services throughout Scotland and north west England were badly affected, with trains not running and buses that would have replaced them unable to operate in some areas.

Among areas where trains were not operating were Carlisle to Maryport in Cumbria, Carlisle to Carstairs, Dundee to Aberdeen, and Glasgow to Dunblane.