Storm Desmond: Major incident declared in Cumbria as severe flooding puts further homes at risk

A "major incident" has been declared in Cumbria as the River Eden burst its banks making conditions "unprecedented". Six more severe weather warnings, indicating danger to life, have now been issued by the Environment Agency – making a total of 33 across the UK.

Residents in Kendal, Appleby and Keswick have already been evacuated from the homes, as pieces of furniture float down one of the streets and local paths and roads close, including the A66, due to the adverse weather.

Keswick Station Commander Adrian Holmes of the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said the current conditions in Keswick were "unprecedented", and more serious than the floods of 2009. Reception shelters have been set up in Kendal's town hall and a leisure centre.

Cumbrian Police were now telling residents to evacuate the area, but to not use vehicles unless "absolutely necessary, as it would pose a major risk to personal safety and the safety of other members of the public".

In a statement it said: "Many of Cumbria's roads are blocked or impassable due to flooding and widespread surface water. In particular roads around Keswick and Kendal are blocked and we advise people not to travel in or out of those areas.

"Cumbria Police would urge the public to respect road closed signs and drive with caution on all roads and we are urging people not to walk or drive through any flood water of which they cannot judge the depth."

Death in London

According to Sky News, a 90-year-old man has died after apparently being blown into the side of a bus in north London because of the gale-force winds.

People also have been warned that they cannot travel between Preston and Carlisle on Virgin Trains with services cancelled from London to Scotland on the West Coast Mainline.

A spokesman said: "Due to a landslip, flooding and a red weather warning there are no services at all, in either direction, between Preston and Carlisle on the West Coast Mainline. This situation will continue for the rest of today and throughout Sunday, with services expected to resume on Monday. Services are running between London and Preston and between Glasgow and Carlisle. We're sorry for the disruption this will cause to your journey."