The devastation from above: Aerial photographs show widespread flooding across Cumbria caused by Storm Desmond as residents tell of despair after £48million flood defences fail to do their job
- Aerial photos show the vast flooding across Cumbria after Storm Desmond brought 13.5 inches of rain in 24 hours
- Pensioners, children and pets had to be rescued from their homes in Carlisle as the military were called in to help
- More than 60,000 homes across North West have been left without power due to the devastation caused by floods
- David Cameron said the government will do all it can to help and announced emergency Cobra meeting later today
Dramatic aerial photographs have revealed widespread flooding devastation in England where more than 1,000 residents have evacuated their homes.
And the shocking scenes in the North West have come despite £48million being spent on flood defences in recent years in a bid to stop such events.
Fury is mounting today over a lack of protection for Cumbria, with the Keswick Mayor criticising the 'completely overwhelmed' defences in his town.
Paul Titley said the defences 'were designed for a one-in-100-year event - and since it's six years since we had the last one, we are sort of surprised'.
Cumbria council leader Stuart Young called today for an investigation into adequacy of flood defences as families said they had not been protected.
Sian Lawson, 46, and her daughter Emilie, 18, suffered £200,000 of damage to their home last time and could not return for seven months.
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Waterlogged pitch: Carlisle United FC's stadium Brunton Park is underwater after extreme flooding hit Cumbria thanks to Storm Desmond
Shocking scale: These dramatic aerial photographs show the widespread flooding in Kendal in the Lake District left by Storm Desmond
Stranded: Fields remain largely under water in Kendal after Storm Desmond brought a record amount of rainfall to Cumbria this weekend
Submerged Kendal: More than 60,000 properties in the North were without power and more than 1,000 people evacuated due to the floods
Devastation: Rivers burst their banks and flood defences toppled in what has been described by some as Cumbria's worst ever flooding
Again, they have been forced to leave. Mrs Lawson said: ‘We got as much as we could upstairs, but couldn’t do anything about the large items.
‘I am slightly angry that the defences didn’t hold – you expect them to hold – but Mother Nature is what it is.’
And Julia Whittle, 70, who lives alone in Carlisle, said she had been reassured after her home was flooded in 2005 that it would not happen again.
Back then she lost everything on the ground floor. She said: ‘They spent £25million on flood defences… but it has made no difference.
‘I really thought it would be completely safe after all the work they did. I am a bit in denial... If my daughter wasn’t here I would probably be hysterical.’
Mrs Whittle said she was unable to move things upstairs, and is dreading returning to her home where the water was said to be ‘waist-high’.
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Fields, homes and even Carlisle United's football ground have been left underwater after rivers burst their banks following the huge amount of rainfall.
And there is more to come, with Met Office severe warnings in place until Thursday - and up to seven inches of rain expected between now and then.
Flooding was so severe in Cumbria that a major incident had to be declared and Army personnel and Chinook helicopters were called in to help.
Police, mountain rescue teams and firefighters were also trying to reach those stranded in their homes, as the water rose to waist-height.
Some 40,000 properties in the North West were still without power this morning, although this figure was down from 60,000 yesterday.
Water supplies in a number of main towns were also affected by flood water and at least 20 schools are expected to remain closed today.
Aerial photographs taken from a helicopter this afternoon show the complete devastation caused in Kendal, Cumbria, by the flooding
Fields and many homes remain partially submerged after rivers burst their banks in Allonby after more than 13.5 inches of rain fell
This image, taken from a viewing box at Carlisle Airport, shows the vast amount of flooding across the Carlisle area thanks to the storm
The fields around Keswick in Cumbria remain flooded after torrential rain from Storm Desmond lashed the country over the weekend
Residents were forced to leave their homes in Carlisle, Cumbria, after the deluge and floodwater became so high it went above the knees
Rescue workers help a lady and her dog in Carlisle after heavy rain from Storm Desmond tore through Britain, bringing chaos to Cumbria
A team helps to evacuate people from their homes during heavy flooding in Carlisle, Cumbria, as more than 1,000 people were rescued
Cobra meeting: Prime Minister David Cameron said the Government is doing all it can to help communities caught up in the devastation
The disruption has led to the cancellation of appointments and routine services across NHS hospitals and services in Cumbria today.
Cumbria Police also launched a search following reports of an elderly man falling into a swollen River Kent in Kendal.
Carlisle was among the worst affected areas, with about 2,000 homes and businesses flooded, and residents were told to stay indoors and not to travel.
Those already evacuated from their homes were told not to return last night and faced a night sleeping in makeshift shelter accommodation.
Prime Minister David Cameron said the Government is doing all it can to help communities caught up in the devastation left by Storm Desmond.
He said he would chair a meeting of the Cobra contingencies committee later today to co-ordinate Whitehall's response to the flooding.
But the Government has faced criticism after hugely expensive defences built following the catastrophic floods in 2005 failed to keep the deluge out.
Announcing the emergency meeting, Mr Cameron said: 'The thoughts of the whole country will be with the people in Cumbria and the North West who have suffered so terribly from the devastating storms this weekend.
'The Government is doing everything it can to help those who have seen their homes flooded - and to try and prevent further damage.
'I would like to pay a huge tribute to all those emergency workers and troops who have worked tirelessly to respond to this weekend's events.
'There has been a tremendous response from local communities too, with people taking in families affected by the flooding.'
After £48million of anti-flood investment in the region in recent years, residents were reassured the deluges that devastated Carlisle in 2005 and Cockermouth in 2009 would not happen again in their lifetime.
But floods minister and Penrith MP Rory Stewart said: 'We have not seen weather like this … This is not just beyond living memory, it is beyond records in Cumbria.'
Workers rescue a woman from an inflatable boat in Carlise as the Environment Agency issues 186 flood warnings for the Cumbria region
Members of the Armed Forces check on residents on Lismore Street following extreme flooding in Carlisle over the last two days
Three men use a kayak to help rescue stricken residents from the severe flooding on Warwick Street in Carlisle, Cumbria, yesterday
Rescuers donned waterproof, protective clothing as they help evacuate residents from their homes in the flooded streets of Carlisle
A car ferry was left with a huge hole in its port after crashing with another vessel in high winds and rain on the Humber Estuary overnight
The damaged ship is now docked in Inningham Docks, Humberside, as an investigation to establish the cause of the crash gets underway
David Wildridge, his wife Melanie and children Maddie, 11 and Ayden, nine, had time to take only a few bags and their dog, Fletch, before being rescued by boat from their home in Carlisle city centre as roads were submerged.
Mr Wildridge said emergency services had been worried about a crack in a join between a flood defence wall and a bridge over the River Eden, close to their home.
He said: 'Our house is one of the last ones on the list. We live very near to the bridge and the flood water in the house came up through the floor, about a foot of water.
'There's nothing you can do about it. We just took the advice of the rescuers and left.'
Peter Brown had to leave his Carlisle home in the early hours yesterday with his 15-year-old daughter Rebecca. The HGV driver said: 'We got a knock on the door at 5.45am saying we will have to evacuate the premises. I literally grabbed a few things, put valuables upstairs.
'My living room and staircase is now underwater. We could watch the water creeping higher up the street until it got to our house. I think if it wasn't for the flood defences it could have been a lot worse. The amount of rainfall we have had is something like two months in the space of four hours.'
And Barbara Westmoreland said her partner Gordon Hastings had to rescue his parents, who had been forced to take shelter upstairs from the 4ft of water in their home.
Miss Westmoreland said an earlier rescue by her partner had failed and the couple did not want to leave their dog Ella. She added: 'They brought a 4x4 and wore waders but they couldn't get through and went home with wet pants. I think the dog is the key player here. They are worried about getting the dog in a boat.'
Miss Westmoreland said the couple had been put on the list taken by emergency services to be rescued by boat. She added: 'It is worse this time than when they were flooded ten years ago. Christmas is cancelled, that's what they said.'
Margaret McCraken, 79, is rescued from her home in Broad Street, Carlisle, by members of the armed forces who have been called in to help
A member of the armed forces helps move stranded pensioner Ms McCraken from her flooded house (left), as residents try to salvage their belongings in Carlisle (right)
David Cameron said Army officers had been called in to help stricken families affected and stranded by the floods which hit at the weekend
Members of the armed forces help distribute sandbags to families following flooding in Carlisle as 186 flood warnings were in place
A local resident stumbles as he wades through flood water on a residential street in Carlisle, as British police declared a major incident in northern England
The water was waist-high in Carlisle yesterday as Storm Desmond brought more than 13.5 inches of rainfall to the region within 24 hours
People wait in the doorway of their home in Carlisle after being blocked in by high floodwater which hit the region over the weekend
A man helps another man put on wellington boots before setting out in the floods, while another makes a phone call in Carlisle (right)
A woman and two children assess the severe flooding after awaking to scenes of deluge and devastation in Carlisle, Cumbria, yesterday
A tree is surrounded by water as flooding blights Cockermouth town after the confluences of the River Cocker and River Derwent overflow
Cars sit underwater as the flooding rises up to windscreen level in Cockermouth, Cumbria, as the deluge across the north continues
Water rises around stores and homes as flooding blights the market town of Cockermouth as forecasters warn of more chaos overnight
More than 60,000 people have been left without power across the north west due to the heavy rain and severe flooding, including in Lancaster, Lancashire, after a primary sub station flooded (pictured). Residents have been warned they could be without power for days
Rubbish is piled high as the people of Keswick begin the clean up after flood damage caused by Storm Desmond wreaked havoc
Residents in Keswick, Cumbria, attempt to clean out their homes after the severe flooding which has brought the north to a standstill
Debris is piled outside some houses as the people of Keswick begin the clean up following the flood damage caused by Storm Desmond
Mike Wilkinson stood on the sandbagged doorstep of his home as water lapped up to the door. Two doors down, his neighbour had been flooded, and further down the terraced street water was up to letterboxes.
The thoughts of the whole country will be with the people in Cumbria and the North West who have suffered so terribly from the devastating storms. The Government is doing everything it can to help those who have seen their homes flooded - and to try and prevent further damage
Prime Minister David Cameron
He said: 'I went to bed at 4.30am and woke up at 7.30am to this. The water must have moved half a mile inland in three hours. It just started raining heavy on Friday and all day Saturday. Last night it started backing up from the Eden and the Petteril [rivers] it hit Tesco first and backed up and backed up.
'I think the bridge is going to collapse. It's deeper now than it was ten years ago. Last time it did this, every house was a building site for six months. It went on for 12 months before the skips left the streets.'
Rachel Snedker had been house-sitting for her sister when then floods hit. She said: 'She just said: "Look after the house for a couple of days and don't set anything on fire." Instead we've had a flood.
'We came over at 7.30am just moved the TV and valuables upstairs then came back later and moved absolutely everything.'
An entire Cumbrian village was also left isolated after a flooded river swept away the bridge connecting it to the rest of the county.
Geoff Mawdsley, 49, owner of the Coledale Inn in Braithwaite in the northern Lake District, described a 'raging torrent going into the village' and said a wall of the Coledale High Bridge had simply 'gone'.
'I've driven into the village and there is four to five feet of water in the middle of the village where people would usually be walking around,' he said.
'The river has broken its banks and there is debris all over the roads. You can't go any further or it would just smash your car up.
'Both bridges are now unusable, and we can only hope they won't be condemned on Monday as that will destroy our business. Residents in the village are sharing rooms with people who have been flooded out and we are trying to put people up as well. We will be open all night.
'It's a shame that it's so close to Christmas but we are bearing up. You've just got to knuckle down.'
The Mountain Rescue Team wade through high water levels to save an elderly man, his dog and possessions from his home in Carlisle
Rescue workers had to help people from their homes in boats in Carlisle as Storm Desmond continued to wreak havoc across Britain
Residents pack their belongings into rucksacks and bags and wade through the deep floodwater as they evacuate their Carlisle homes
Residents are helped from their front door and into a large rigid inflatable boat by mountain rescue teams as homes are hit by flooding
A couple are rescued by boat from their home in Carlisle after more than 13.5 inches of rain fell between Friday night and Saturday evening
Cars and houses are submerged in a street in Carlisle as Cumbria Police warn residents to stay indoors and not to travel
RNLI and Fire Rescue teams use inflatable boats to rescue residents and their pets from first floor windows in Carlisle this morning which has been engulfed in flood water following record breaking rainfall
A man (left) climbs down a ladder from the first floor window of his property in Carlisle this morning, while two women and pet dog climb into a inflatable boat (right)
More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from houses in parts of Cumbria. Here two woman, pictured in a dingy, were pulled to safety
A man carries his belongings in his bag and holds the family dog as he evacuates his home in Carlisle following a record amount of rain
Residents wade through flood waters in the Warwick Road area of Carlisle after police declared the severe flooding a major incident
Shops were submerged in dirty floodwater after the River Eden burst its banks through the market town of Appleby in Cumbria yesterday
The River Eden bursts its banks in the market town of Appleby, Cumbria, and left homes, businesses and pubs flooded this afternoon
Floodwater was half way up some properties' front doors in Appleby after the River Eden burst its banks when 13 inches of rain fell
The Government is expected to announce a record for the most amount of rain fall in 24 hours after 13.5 inches hit. Pictured: Appleby
GONE IN A FLASH: BRIDGE THAT WAS 250 YEARS OLD IS REDUCED TO RUBBLE AS STORM DESMOND HITS CUMBRIA
It had stood since 1764, welcoming visitors to one of the Lake District's most beautiful areas.
But yesterday, surging river water caused by Storm Desmond reduced Pooley Bridge to rubble.
The crossing at the mouth of Ullswater, the second largest lake in Cumbria, was unable to withstand pressure from the swollen River Eamont. Locals said it was 'heartbreaking'.
Mark Littlejohn said: 'A favourite view … Today is a nightmare.'
Jason Holden wrote on Twitter: 'Really sad to see this bridge lost … Was only stood on it last week.'
Police said the B5295 bridge at Braithwaite and the Fitz footbridge, Keswick, were also 'washed away'.
Pooley Bridge in Ullswater, Cumbria, had stood since 1764 (left) but was reduced to rubble yesterday as Storm Desmond lashed the UK
Police are now warning residents who have already been evacuated in the Cumbria region not to return to their flooded homes as conditions are still 'dangerous'.
A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: 'It is essential that residents of flooded homes do not return to their properties unless instructed to do so as you are putting yourself in danger as many of the flooded properties will be dark and without electricity.
'Cumbria Police would like to ask the public whose house are not affected by floodwater to stay indoors, to ensure your own safety and that of other members of the public and the emergency services.
'We would urge the public to look out for any vulnerable family/friends and neighbours.'
Various shelters around Cumbria are being kept open throughout the night to accommodate those who have been evacuated due to the deluge.
Cumbria Police also confirmed in its statement that three bridges in the county have been 'washed away' by the floods: including the B5295 bridge at Braithwaite, Fitz Footbridge in Keswick, and Pooley Bridge in the Eden District.
More remain closed or damaged and officers are reminding people to completely avoid bridges that are underwater until they have been checked and made safe as they pose a 'danger to life'.
It came as Carlisle United Football Club offered their senior and youth squads to help anyone who has fallen victim to flooding in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders.
The League Two club, which saw a 5-0 victory over Welling Town in the FA cup second round yesterday, said the team would help with 'anything that is needed'.
The club, which has seen its own ground - Brunton Park - left under water by the flooding, wrote on Twitter: 'Just speaking to club captain Danny Grainger on the team bus.
'A lot of concern from the lads about all those affected by this weekend's events up in Cumbria and the Borders. Every member of the squad has agreed that they want to help, if at all possible.
'So, they have spoken to manager Kieth Curle, and it has been agreed that we will all be available, after training on Tuesday, to help out in any way possible.
'Clearing furniture, cleaning, tidying ‒ anything that is needed and that will help. Contact us on media@carlisleunited.co.uk if you think the lads can help you with your situation.'
They then added: 'Academy manager Alan Moore has just been in touch ‒ our U18 side will be joining the first team squad to help the community on Tuesday.'
Carlisle skipper Grainger also wrote: 'Anyone affected by the Cumbria floods and need help with anything at all please get in touch and some of the squad can come and help anyone.'
Photographer Neil Barnes captured strong winds battering West Bay, Dorset, which caused froth from the sea to fill the air and promenade
Three fishermen walk to a spot where they can set up their rods to fish on the beach at a windswept Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
A man walks his dogs along the coast at Porthcawl in south Wales as huge waves lash the lighthouse as Storm Desmond continues to hit
Pooley Bridge in Cumbria collapsed following heavy floodwater this weekend (left) while Porthcawl, Wales, was battered by waves (right)
Debris is piled high outside one house in the Cumbrian town of Keswick following flash flooding which brought deluge to the community
Floods in Carlisle have been caused by the River Eden breaking its banks and heavy rain has seen thousands of homes lose electricity
An overturned vehicle at Kirkstone Pass, Cumbria, yesterday following record breaking rainfall across the north caused by Storm Desmond
A road collapsed in Patterdale, Cumbria, this afternoon due to the heavy rainfall and winds which have hit the region over the weekend
Part of a road running through Patterdale, Cumbria, collapsed into a nearby river this afternoon as it struggled under the heavy rainfall
Residents try to halt the damage caused by the severe flooding by laying sandbanks outside their homes in Carlisle, Cumbria, yesterday
Army personnel, from the 2nd Btn The Duke of Lancaster's Regt, gather for a briefing in Carlisle as they prepare to evacuate residents
Army personnel check windows of homes as they search for residents in a bid to help evacuate them from their severely flooded homes
A man and his dog are helped from in inflatable boat and onto dry land after being rescued from his home in Carlisle by Army members
These images show the inside of a flooded property on Aynam Road in Kendal, Cumbria, during the night as floodwater caused chaos
Following an emergency Government meeting, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said that figures from a rain gauge in Honister, Cumbria, suggest a record amount of rain fell in the 24 hours between Friday and Saturday evenings.
It measured 341mm, which is more than a month's worth of rainfall in just one day and more than the UK has ever experienced in such a short amount of time.
She confirmed that more than 2,000 homes and businesses in the county had been flooded and there is still a threat that the number could rise.
She said: 'There remains a risk of further flooding in some areas and the Environment Agency continues to warn communities in northern England to be prepared.
'They have issued more flood warnings and alerts across the country. It is important people continue to heed the advice of the emergency services.
'We are delivering on our manifesto commitment to build 1,400 new flood defence schemes that will better protect 300,000 more homes. That's an extra £2.3billion of capital investment to help our most at-risk communities.'
Carlisle remains one of the most severely affected areas and rescue helicopters and boats were called in over the weekend to reach those stranded by the rising floodwater.
Around 350 army personnel, two vehicles and a Chinook helicopter were made available from 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regiment to assist with the flooding and evacuating residents in streets where cars were almost entirely submerged.
Power shortages were also a serious problem in the area and Electricity North West is currently carrying out planned power outages to prevent 60,000 customers from losing power at once.
A spokesman for the company said: 'We tried everything we could to protect Carlisle but unfortunately this is an unprecedented flooding event.'
Clean water supplies are also an issue as United Utilities confirmed that a number of treatment works and water mains across Cumbria have been affected by the heavy rain, including Keswick, Borrowdale Valley, Langwathby, Lancaster and Carlisle.
Looking ahead into the week, Cumbria County Council has announced at least 24 school closures in the region due to the disruption.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Rory Stewart, who is also the Tory MP for Penrith and the Border, said flooding in his constituency has been 'the worst that anybody's experienced' and acknowledged water had 'overtopped' existing flood defences.
He told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend that, in the face of record rainfall in the area prompting a 'very, very serious response' from the fire and rescue service, mountain rescue, the police and the army, people in the area had shown 'incredible community spirit'.
FAMILY OF SIX WERE PLUCKED TO SAFETY IN DRAMATIC HELICOPTER RESCUE AFTER STORM DESMOND HIT
This is the dramatic moment a family of six were winched to safety from their flooded home when Storm Desmond battered Wales.
The clip - taken by rescuers from the coastguard - shows the view from the helicopter as it hovers over their house as water gushes around it.
A member of the family dangles on the end of a line as they are slowly winched to safety one by one in the rescue in North Wales.
The devastating scene is only made visible when a searchlight is pointed into the darkness.
A spokeswoman from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: 'The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter crew from Caernarfon in North Wales were involved for eight hours in the area assisting the other emergency services with a number of different incidents including this rescue of a family of six from their flooded home.'
A family of six are winched to safety one by one in a dramatic rescue after Storm Desmond battered Wales
Cumbria Police, HM Coastguard and Mountain Rescue Teams all scrambled to evacuate residents in various locations across Carlisle as the floodwater rose to waist-length.
Mark Christie of Cumbria Police was one of the heroes of the night when he carried an elderly woman to safety in his arms after her home was flooded.
Vehicles struggled through the floodwater and parked cars could been seen submerged in water.
Marie Bragshaw and her dog Meg had a lucky escape as they were evacuated out of the street on a boat from HM Coastguard, which earned her rescuer a hug and kiss when they reached safe ground.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron was among those stranded in Cumbria.
Mr Farron was driving through his Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency with four children in the car when he got stuck on a heavily flooded back road.
He told BBC News: 'It is incredible weather. We have not seen anything like this. This is Cumbria for pity's sake - we are used to challenging weather. This is beyond anything I can even recall.'
Rain continued to fall overnight in Scotland, northern England and northern parts of Wales, and is likely to continue for a few hours yet, forecasters said. Some areas have already seen more than a month's worth of rain over the last 24 hours.
The deluge left streets lined with terraced houses looking more like rivers as rescue teams set off in rubber dinghies to help stranded locals. Many remain underwater, while some have been left covered in mud and debris.
The British Red Cross teams have set up rest centres in Keswick, Appleby and Kendal, while medical groups issued an urgent call to draft in extra doctors amid fears the storm could cause casualties.
Adrian Holme, from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, told the BBC the flood was 'unprecedented' and 'exceptionally challenging' as more than 100 people were evacuated from Keswick.
Power supplies were also seriously affected and at least 55,000 homes in Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth will continue to face power cuts for a number of days after flood defences protecting a major substation were breached overnight.
Electricity North West said another 4,000 properties were without power across Cumbria as flooding continued to cause further faults.
A fire and rescue crew had to save a member of the public who was found clinging to a tree after they tried to reach a horse stranded in a flooded field in Northumberland, while fire services in Lancashire responded to more than 300 calls for help, including road traffic collisions and two fires.
The River Eden burst its banks through the market town of Appleby as Storm Desmond caused widespread flooding across Cumbria
The streets in Appleby have been transformed into rivers by the heavy rainfall. A car is pictured here completely submerged in flood water
This picture, which was taken in a cemetery in Appleby, yesterday shows headstones covered in flood water after the river burst its banks
Residents leave their homes, carrying their belongings and a pet dog in Carlisle, as severe weather warnings remain in place for Britain
A pensioner is carried to safety by a woman who is wading through a flooded street in Carlisle as water levels rise
The Environment Agency has issued 186 flood warnings, as Cumbria Police warned Carlisle residents to stay indoors and not to travel. Here two residents leave their home to wade through the high water
Looking ahead, MeteoGroup forecaster Gemma Plumb said weather should dry out later during Sunday - before more rain heads up from the south west on Sunday night.
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said that an emergency Government meeting has been called to organise effective responses for the worst affected.
She said: 'We know what a devastating impact flooding has on communities and our thoughts are with those affected this weekend.
'The Environment Agency, local authorities and the emergency services are already working around the clock to protect properties, help those already affected and reduce the risk to others and we are working with them to ensure they have everything they need to respond. I urge people to check the latest flood updates via the EA website and Twitter.'
In the south of Scotland, hundreds of homes have been evacuated as Storm Desmond burst river banks across the country.
A rare red weather warning covered Dumfries, Lothian and the Borders until the early hours of Sunday with heavy rain due to continue.
Dumfries and Galloway Council described the situation as a 'major emergency' and said it was preparing for flooding similar to that which hit the region in 2009.
More than 100mm of rain has fallen in the region since Friday, according to Met Office figures.
Red Cross volunteers were called out to set up and run a rest centre for people evacuated from their flood-threatened homes in Hawick.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has more than 70 flood warnings in place across the country, with the most severe warnings in place for Hawick and Newcastleton.
Homes close to the River Esk in Langholm were also evacuated on Saturday night as water breached the bank, while flooding has also been reported in some areas of Annandale and Eskdale including Wamphray, Cummertrees and Hoddom.
The River Tay in Perth is expected to reach its highest level for more than a decade and other rivers are at risk of bursting their banks.
An elderly woman is carried by members of the Army and the RNLI as she is evacuated from her home in the St Aidens area of Carlisle
A man, wearing a life jacket, is helped by members of the Army and RNLI after being evacuated from his home in Cumbria this afternoon
Emergency workers walk through floodwater on Warwick Road in Carlisle, after heavy rain from Storm Desmond tore through Britain
A Nissan Micra is submerged in water in Carlisle this morning as flood water rose quickly over night after Storm Desmond battered the UK
Cumbria Police warned Carlisle residents to stay indoors and not to travel as rescue workers waded through high water levels (pictured)
Carlisle city centre in Cumbria was on full alert as residents were rescued from their homes during the early hours of Sunday morning
Almost 20 properties in Blair Atholl were evacuated for a time on Saturday after the Garry Burn burst its banks but residents were allowed to return as the water level receded.
Sepa duty hydrology manager Marc Becker said: 'We are particularly concerned that the flooding situation will deteriorate further this evening in Tayside and particularly the south west of Scotland and the Borders.
'The risk to communities in Hawick and Newcastleton are such that Sepa, in discussion with emergency responders, have issued severe flood warnings for both towns. Impacts will include widespread property flooding, evacuations, damage to infrastructure and severe transport disruption.'
Police have warned against all but essential travel, with a series of major roads disrupted.
The majority of Scottish football matches were postponed on Saturday due to waterlogging and winds also had an impact on Renfield Street in Glasgow city centre, closed for a time as part of the Cineworld roof came loose.
The Scottish Government's resilience committee met twice on Saturday to discuss steps being taken to lessen the impact of flooding.
Chief Inspector David McCallum, who is leading the emergency response in the south of Scotland, said: 'We have been able to identify potential incidents early and deploy resources to ensure that local people have received the support, resources, advice, information and reassurance that they required.
'Severe weather conditions will continue through Sunday. Road conditions remain extremely dangerous and driving should be avoided if possible, especially on B class roads as many are not passable.'
In London, a 90-year-old man died yesterday near Finchley Central station, north London, after being blown into the side of a moving bus by a gust of wind.
Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter: 'My thoughts are with all affected by Storm Desmond. Teams are working to ensure swift response and help for those who need it.'
The Environment Agency issued 56 severe weather warnings, which means endanger to life, and 60 flood warnings that requires immediate action, across Britain
The Met Desk's weather map (left) shows the astonishing rain levels in the last 24 hours, as more than 100mm fell in the North West. The map (right) shows the latest wind levels
Meanwhile, more than £10,000 has been donated by the public after a £1 million appeal was launched to help people who have been affected by the storm.
The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund 2015, launched by the Cumbria Community Foundation, aims to contribute to clean-up costs, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and heating equipment, childcare equipment and basic furniture for individuals and families who already struggle financially.
It has kicked off the appeal with a donation of £50,000 from its own funds and is asking people who can help to give generously.
Andy Beeforth, the foundation's chief executive, said: 'We are still in the eye of the storm but we know that it appears the flooding is worse than in 2009 in some areas of the county. People will need financial help to rebuild and we want to have the means to do that.
'It is difficult to assess the scale of the need but we know that the flooding will cause significant financial hardship and emotional distress. We will be convening meetings with the major voluntary groups involved in the recovery and also with major providers of social housing to assess the impact on their tenants.'
As well as severe flooding across Cumbria and Scotland, Storm Desmond has also caused chaos elsewhere – including at sea.
The huge cargo ship which was left with a hole in the side following a collision in choppy waters on Thursday night has now been brought back to Inningham Docks, Humberside, to be examined.
Both vessels involved in the crash were berthed safely following the incident and an investigation has now been launched to establish how the collision occurred.
An Associated British Ports (ABP) spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that a collision occurred between two vessels at 8.40pm on Thursday evening in the Humber Estuary.
'Both vessels sustained damage but were berthed safely following the incident.
'The relevant agencies have been informed and a full investigation will now take place to ascertain the cause of the collision.'
AN IRISH REPORTER IS BATTERED WITH WIND AND RAIN FROM STORM DESMOND DURING A LIVE BROADCAST
Broadcaster Teresa Mannion braved the elements on the Six One News in Ireland as she gave a news report on Storm Desmond.
In the live report from Galway, which has now gone viral, she was battered with heavy wind and rain.
RTE, Ireland's national television and radio broadcaster, tweeted the video afterwards, saying: 'RTE News' Teresa Mannion's heroic Storm Desmond report has gone viral and it's easy to see why.'
Teresa told RTE Ten afterwards that she has been blown away by the response to the video.
In the report, she said: 'I cannot repeat the advice often enough from the gardai.
'Don't make unnecessary journeys, don't take risks on treacherous roads. And don't swim in the sea.
'Incredibly people have been spotted in the water here in Blackrock in Salthill.'
Broadcaster Teresa Mannion braved the elements on the Six One News in Ireland as she gave a news report on Storm Desmond
Elsewhere at sea, the cross-Tyne Shields ferry, Spirit of the Tyne, had to be rescued by Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat volunteers in a dramatic mission last night after the ferry's engine failed on its final crossing of the night from North to South Shields.
As the lifeboat was being launched, the Spirit of the Tyne managed to evacuate the small number of passengers onboard, leaving just the skipper who was desperately trying to get the engine restarted.
The drifting ferry was then carried several hundred yards downriver by the powerful wind and current until it was caught on the river bank.
The RNLI lifeboat approached the ferry and, in a difficult operation, the crew managed to get a tow rope attached and pull the stricken vessel away from the rocks, almost becoming grounded itself in the extreme wind.
The lifeboat dragged the ferry back to South Shields and almost had it secured when the tow rope parted after becoming snagged on the ferry landing, with the wind again blowing the ferry away.
Eventually the lifeboat crew got the ferry under tow again and a got it safely tied up on the landing.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3348001/Storm-Desmond-wreaks-flood-havoc-Cumbria-Scotland-1-000-homeless-60-000-properties-without-power-50-severe-flood-warnings-force.html#ixzz3tiWHJjN7
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Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3348001/Storm-Desmond-wreaks-flood-havoc-Cumbria-Scotland-1-000-homeless-60-000-properties-without-power-50-severe-flood-warnings-force.html
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