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Residents are transported in a lifeboat to avoid floodwater in northern England - Source: Reuters -
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Hundreds of people were allowed back to their shops and businesses for the first time to count the cost of the damage caused by flooding in one of the worst-affected towns.
After waiting for three days, the owners of 900 properties in Cockermouth entered a police cordon to see the devastation that followed unprecedented torrential rain that lashed the Cumbrian town last week.
Shop windows were smashed, stock lay ruined on muddy floors and water marks on the walls showed how flood water from the River Cocker had reached shoulder-height.
Some shop-owners complained that it took too long for the authorities to allow them back to check the damage after the damage from Thursday night's flooding.
"I can understand people being frustrated," Chief Constable Craig Mackey of Cumbria police told BBC television. "These are people's homes, their businesses, their livelihood. It is going to be a long process."
While the Christmas tree in the main street was still standing, some businesses said they did not expect to reopen in time for the festive season. The owner of a book store said all her stock had been lost. Books on high shelves showed signs of water damage, while the floor was a sodden mess of ruined books, mud and dirty water.
Television pictures showed broken windows in the Black Bull pub, an ice cream cabinet lying toppled in a cafe and soaked baby clothes at a children's clothes store.
Roads, schools closed
The heaviest rain ever recorded in England flooded more than 1,300 properties in Cumbria, destroyed two large road bridges and triggered flood warnings for rivers across the region.
Officials said 13 primary schools and five secondary schools were closed as well as 16 bridges and at least 25 roads across the devastated region.
Emergency teams worked through the night to repair flood defences, pump water from houses and check bridges weakened by torrents of flood water.
The Ministry of Defence said that 25 soldiers from 39 Regiment the Royal Artillery had been sent to help the emergency services.
Police constable Bill Barker was killed on Friday when the bridge he was standing on was swept away by flood waters in Workington in Cumbria.
A search for a 21-year-old woman feared dead after falling into the River Usk in Brecon, mid-Wales, was due to resume on Monday. A 46-year-old canoeist was killed in the River Dart in Devon after becoming trapped against a tree on Saturday.
Flood warnings remained in place at 18 locations across the country, including a severe one for some areas around the River Eamont in Cumbria.
A Met Office spokeswoman said there will be more showers in Cumbria on Monday, with heavier rain expected on Tuesday.
"It will probably not be as heavy as we saw over the weekend, but there will be some more rain," she said.
